The elevated rail track solution to the four level crossings removals in Preston looks set to deliver better bike riding and parking facilities.
There will be a new section of trail along the track from Oakover Road to Murray Road.
It will connect the bike route along Oakover Street through to the St Georges Road Trail just north of Murray Road.
Also, it will provide access to Bell and Preston Stations.
The new Preston Station will have a new Parkiteer cage in addition to the existing cage, which will be refurbished and located on the trail.
The new Bell Station will also have a new Parkiteer cage.
The levels crossings being removed are at Oakover Road, Bell Street, Cramer Street, and Murray Road, Preston.
The trail will be constructed as part of an open space project to improve community amenity under and adjacent to the elevated track.
Efforts have been made to separate pedestrians from riders through the precinct.
It would be surprising if this works as people on foot seem to automatically colonise any path that is reserved for people on bikes. We live in hope.
The connections should also improve access to the Preston market, depending on how access is managed for the market redevelopment.
There’ll be a new signalised pedestrian crossing on Murray Road and a zebra crossing on Cramer Street, providing a safer and more direct route for passengers walking and cycling to the station from the north and south.
Bike hoops outside the station provide parking spaces for 51 bikes and a new Parkiteer cage provides safe and secure storage for 52 bikes.
The elevated rail structure extends about two kilometres through Preston.
The level crossings will be removed by the end of 2022 and the other facilities completed in 2023.