Concept art of a section of the elevated ”veloway”. Image: Victorian Government.
Cycling from Melbourne’s inner west into the city will soon be much easier and safer, with major works starting on a dedicated 2.5-kilometre elevated ‘‘veloway’’ as part of the West Gate Tunnel Project.
Running from Shepherd Bridge at Footscray to the city side of Moonee Ponds Creek in Docklands, the dual-lane, four-metre-wide “cycling super-highway” will be separated from vehicle traffic and suspended between Footscray Road and the new elevated road above.
Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure Danny Pearson said it would remove six intersections from the current route for cyclists, including port entries and exits.
“The new elevated cycling super-highway above Footscray Road will be a game-changer for cyclists in the West – giving cyclists a safer off-road route between the inner west and the city,” he said.
“Cyclist safety is at the forefront of the veloway’s design – which will remove six intersections for bike riders between Footscray and Docklands.”
Night roadworks linked to the cycleway’s construction will be ongoing along Footscray Road, Sims Street and MacKenzie Road until late October, while the current cycling path along Footscray Road will intermittently be diverted onto the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail.
The works will include lifting 195 individual segments for the veloway’s suspended section, weighing a total of 1700 tonnes once complete.
Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams said: “The West Gate Tunnel Project is delivering more than 14 kilometres of new and upgraded paths to make it safer and easier for more people to cycle in Melbourne’s inner west.”
Member for Footscray Katie Hall added: “The West Gate Tunnel Project will completely change the way we move around Melbourne’s west, for the better, and we thank people for their continued patience while we get on with these vital works.”
Member for Northern Metropolitan Region Sheena Watt said the upgrades would deliver safer connections for commuters and encourage more people to cycle.
