Update 6 February: This story now contains updated closure dates for Footscray Road, which have been pushed forward by a day.
The high-profile cable stay bridge over Footscray Road in Docklands moves into its major construction phase in the coming weeks.
The bike and pedestrian facility, one of the most attention-grabbing active transport structures in the nation, forms a key component of the new bike path between Footscray and the city being delivered by the West Gate Tunnel Project.
Strung from two massive pylons, the cable-suspended bridge will take riders diagonally over busy Footscray Road, linking to the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail as well as to the new elevated Veloway that will take riders out to Footscray.
Work is underway to establish ramps and pylons that will hold up the cable stays.
Major activities will begin from the night of Sunday 11 February until Monday 4 March 2024. During this time temporary steel towers will be built to hold the bridge beams in position while they are tied and tensioned to the cables.
During the works there will be a short diversion of the Footscray Road trail around the worksite via Little Waterfront Way, St Mango Lane and Waterfront Way. As this goes past Docklands Primary School, riders should be watchful for pedestrians and school children.
There will be continuous closures of Footscray Road to motor traffic during this time. A major part of the installation has been timed to be carried out during the closure of Wurundjeri Way while there is less traffic in the area.
Riders are advised to be aware:
- The Footscray Road westbound carriageway between Docklands Drive and Waterfront Way will be closed 24/7 from 8pm Sunday 11 February to 8pm Sunday 18 February 2024.
- Footscray Road between Docklands Drive and Pearl River Road will be closed 24/7 in both directions from 8pm Sunday 18 February to 5am Monday 4 March 2024. Drivers can still access the Docklands area via Pearl River Road and Docklands Drive.
Footscray Road motor traffic will be diverted to Dynon Road. Please continue to use signals and take care at crossings.
After these works, and until late June 2024, there will continue to be long-term lane closures and singular overnight carriageway closures in both directions on Footscray Road, as well as intermittent overnight closures of the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail.
There are two more cycling bridges being built in this area in the coming months – a cycling bridge along Footscray Road over Moonee Ponds Creek and a 2.5 kilometre veloway above Footscray Road.
There will be further lane and carriageway closures from late-April 2024 for these works. Further details will be supplied closer to the date.
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