A new bike and pedestrian bridge just settled gently across the Moonee Ponds Creek in West Melbourne, and is soon to welcome its first riders.
The structure is next to the Dynon Road Bridge and will be connected to a much longer sister bridge, which will take riders over the expanse of rail lines into the North Melbourne railway station precinct.
The bridge over the rail tracks is in position and is being fitted out and work on path connections at the approaches is almost complete.
The two bridges are part of the West Gate Tunnel Project and will provide a vital new connection into the city from the west and north.
Contractors had fingers crossed that both bridges would be open to riders for the holiday season, but Melbourne’s wet December has impeded progress.
But it won't be long now.
Previously riders could ride the trail along Dynon Road, or the one along the Moonee Ponds Creek, and theoretically take the Dynon Road Bridge to Spencer Street. But no, you didn’t do that: it was horrible, and no place to be on a bike.
Riders will soon have the option of taking this route through to North Melbourne Station, and then along Adderley Street to Latrobe Street, which will be appreciated by riders heading to Docklands when the creek is flooded.
Downstream at Footscray Road another structure will soon be dropped in across Moonee Ponds Creek.
This will be the new shared path bridge immediately to the south of the Footscray Road Bridge over the creek near Costco and will replace the path that is part of the road bridge.
This will connect to the original shared path that runs alongside Footscray Road, which is being kept although most riders are expected to use the new elevated veloway that will hang from the overhead roadway.
To enable these works, from mid-February, Footscray Road westbound will be closed between Docklands Drive and Waterfront Way.
From late February to early March, Footscray Road will be closed in both directions between Pearl River Road and Docklands Drive.
Further information about changes to bikes routes will be provided closer to that time.
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