Bicycle Network: Metro Routes

More closures on Maribyrnong

10 April 2013. Regional Rail Link construction will close a short section of the Maribyrnong shared path on the eastern (city-side) from Thursday 18 April to 31 July 2013.

Bike riders should use the western path between Dynon Road and the Hobsons Road Footbridge.

Detours will be in place at Footscray Road, Dynon Road and the Hobsons Road Footbridge.

The western (Footscray side) pathway will re-open on Monday 15 April 2013 for pedestrians and cyclists to continue using throughout construction.

The project has placed Variable Message Signal (VMS) boards on both the eastern and western paths to alert users to the upcoming changes.

The project will also be installing new temporary signage along both the eastern and western pathways. The signs include a QR barcode which allows smart phone users to view a 3D animation of the new rail bridge.

Diversion map available here

Maribyrnong trail reconnects to Brimbank Park

24 January 2013. Flood recovery works to repair the Maribyrnong River Trail between Brimbank Park and Canning Street have recently been completed and the trail is now open again for use. 

The $336,000 project was part of the Victorian State Government recovery program for damage incurred in late 2009.

The restoration works included infrastructure and drainage improvements and surface works to the flood damaged path that runs along the banks of the Maribyrnong River. The surface has been restored to fine crushed rock, suitable for mountain, hybrid bicycles, generally bikes with wider tires.

The Maribyrnong River Trail is once again fully connected for 28km from the city through to Brimbank Park.
 

Maribyrnong trail works near stock bridge

30 June 2011. Work on rehabilitating the Maribyrnong River bank along a 2km stretch on the western side between Dynon Road and Fisher Parade, Footscray, may cause minor disruption and temporary detours over the next five months.

The project involves works to control erosion and revegetation with 3,000 native salt marsh plants, which in time will help to improve the environmental health of the river and create a better habitat for native wildlife such as birds, fish and frogs.

The project area will be maintained for three years following planting to support the new vegetation.

At times, small sections of the Maribyrnong River Shared Trail will be impacted by the project, with delays associated with the traffic management measures and detours.

South bound cyclists and pedestrians will be detoured around the works, to the eastern side of the river via the Stock Bridge.

If path users need to stay on the western side of the river, they will be required to stop on the path until the excavator can move and allow them to pass by safely. Cyclists will be required to dismount and walk their bicycles through the construction area.

See map for details.

The areas of the trail requiring detours will be well signed and traffic controllers will be on site to assist commuters.

Bicycle and pedestrian traffic will be impacted by trucks moving rock from stockpiles to the river bank and by the excavator working on the bank.

Where machinery is located on the path, bollards will delineate the area to be used by machinery and the area of path safely trafficable by path users.

Where the machinery is taking up the entire path, path users will be directed to walk around the machinery and back onto the path. Cyclists will be required to walk their bicycles through the construction area.

Trail open during Port upgrade

16 June 2011. The construction of new mooring facilities on the Maribyrnong River at Footscray will cause temporary disruption to the bike trail over the next six months, but it will remain open.

The Port of Melbourne is redeveloping Footscray Wharf as a commercial mooring facility for port vessels, along with improving public access to the riverfront.

Riders travelling on the Maribyrnong River Trail and south of Shepherd Bridge, alongside Maribyrnong Road, are asked to slow down and watch out for works occurring in the area and construction vehicles moving near the bike path.

Initial works will commence in the next week and will involve:

• Erection of temporary site cabins
• Creation of a site access point from Maribyrnong Road
• Demolition and removal of the majority of the derelict timber wharf structure
• Removal of onsite structures, utilities and pavements, and the existing mooring pontoon
• Importing rock onto site using tip trucks
• Construction of a new rock revetment along the riverbank.

Works will occur between the hours of 7am and 6pm, Monday to Saturday, weather permitting.

Construction vehicles will access the site via Moreland Road, Parker and Maribyrnong Streets.

At times during the works, signage and other traffic management measures will be placed along Maribyrnong Street and the nearby cycle and pedestrian pathways.

Maribyrnong flood damage waits on insurance

18 May 2011.  The Maribyrnong River Trail from Brimbank Park into the City remains closed between Brimbank Park and nearly down to the Canning Street Park.

Bicycle Network Victoria have been advised that this portion of the path is on Parks Victoria land and maintained by them. The Ranger in Charge of Maribyrnong Parklands has advised that an insurance claim was made following flood damage in March 2010. Subsequently while that was being processed, the floods of 2011 occurred and a re-assessment was required. Delays have resulted from the large number of insurance claims, and now there is a state-wide approach to the claim.

Given the popularity of the facility, Parks Victoria is keen to reopen the path as soon as possible. In the process of scoping long-term repair solutions, Parks Victoria will consider options for re-alignment or changes to current path construction to improve resilience to flood events.

 Flood problems persist

22 February 2011. Access to the Maribyrnong River remains limited in a number of locations as surface water, debris and silt deposits on trails pose a risk to riders.

The area has seen multiple inundations from high water flows which have led to significant path surface damage.

· The Lower Maribyrnong Trail from Brimbank Park to Canning Street is closed due to flood damage.

· The River Trail from Keilor to Horseshoe Bend Farm is closed due to flood damage and tree risk.

· The river crossing from Green Gully Road to Brimbank is closed, as is the crossing from Garden Ave to Brimbank.

Maribyrnong links unkinked

8 February 2011. The City of Maribyrnong will be closing sections of the Maribyrnong River Trail in Footscray over the next few days as they streamline difficult intersections where the Trail splits at the Kensington Stock Bridge.

The works this week are part of group of improvements along the path through Footscray and Maribyrnong.

Generally riders will be directed to walk around the work zones, and then return to the path to continue riding.

Because of constrained space at the Stock Bridge location the path will be closed for about three days, depending on weather, and pedestrians and cyclists are to be diverted via the Stock Bridge to the existing shared path on the eastern side of river, the Footscray Road shared path, Shepherd's Bridge, Napier Street, Maribyrnong Street back to the Maribyrnong Trail.

According to the council closure will be kept to a minimum and opened up for traffic as soon as possible.

Flood damage remains a problem

10 January 2011. Parks Victoria (see link at right) advises that access to the Maribyrnong River is limited as surface water, debris and silt build up on trails is a risk to visitors.

• The Lower Maribyrnong Trail from Brimbank Park to Canning Street is closed due to flood damage.
• The River Trail from Keilor to Horseshoe Bend Farm is closed due to flood damage and tree risk.
• The river crossings from Green Gully Road to Brimbank is closed, as is the crossing from Garden Ave to Brimbank.

Maribyrnong River - Dynon Rd to Footscray Works [Update]

14 Dec 2010. Melbourne Water have ongoing works on the Maribyrnong River adjacent to the shared path. Completed works include:

• Rock beaching along the waterway
• Rectification of Melbourne City Council drainage infrastructure
• Jute matting, mulching and planting

Future Works
• In the new year Melbourne Water will begin working from the Tidal Drain [Mel 42E5] downstream to Footscray Rd
• For approximately one week Melbourne Water will have to close the bike path completely, as there will be no room for the excavator to perform the works and cyclists to use the path. Upstream (as far as Smithfield Rd) and downstream bridges will be signposted with detour signs accordingly.
• If people do need to access through the area, they will be asked to stop, dismount their bike (if applicable) and be escorted through once the excavator is out the way. This process could take up to 10 minutes.

Cyclists – PLEASE SLOW DOWN! Melbourne Water continues to have problems with cyclists not slowing down through the project area. Melbourne Water makes quite an effort to keep paths open for cyclists so please respect their efforts and obey the signs

Maribyrnong bank in rehab

5 August 2010. Melbourne Water is rehabilitating the eastern bank of the Maribyrnong River, and as a result riders should take extra care in the vicinity over the next month.

There will be excavators working on the bank alongside Sims Street between Dynon Road and Footscray Road in West Melbourne, and a loader delivering rock from stockpiles to the machines operating on the bank.

Maribyrnong trail users need to take care particularly when trucks are unloading rock, or the loader is using the path and when the excavator is partly located on the path. This will require bike riders to dismount and walk around the back of the machine.

Each machine on site has someone on foot to spot for it. Cyclists will need to be aware of short delays (1 minute) in their daily commute. It is rare to get large numbers of commuters of here, but it only takes one mistake to put someone at risk.

Off peak when there is no work activity, the path will be left clean and fully open. Please let Bicycle Network Victoria or Melbourne Water know if there are any problems or suggestions to be made.

Not for long closure on the Maribyrnong

27 May 2010. Two busy sections of the Maribyrnong River Trail will be closed for two weeks in June for upgrades.

In Van Ness Avenue, the trail will be closed between Pipemakers Park and the intersection of Van Ness Avenue and Hillside Crescent from Monday 7 June for about two weeks.

Alternative access will be avialable via Van Ness Avenue and Pipemakers Park, or, on the eastern side of the Maribyrnong via Raleigh Road Bridge, Woods Street and Newsom Bridge.

In Raleigh Road, Maribyrnong the trail will be closed between northern and southern sides of the Raleigh Road bridge over the Maribyrnong for about two weeks from Monday 14 June for approximately 2 weeks.

Alternative access via Clyde Street/Raleigh Road intersection.

Maribyrnong path works warning

18 June 2009. Riders on the west path along the Maribyrong River north of Dynon Road should be aware of Melbourne Water riverbank works over the next few weeks.

Signage will be employed upstream and downstream of the works encouraging people to swap to the opposite side of the river.

Bollards with flag tape will be used between the path and the edge of the bank. In the area around the excavator this may extend to the middle of the path.

Riders are asked to slow down and ride with care.

Former Defence site development an opportunity for the Trail

4 May 2009. The State Government has announced the redevelopment of the former Defence site alongside the Maribyrnong River into a new mixed use residential and commercial suburb.

Within 10km of the Melbourne CBD, the redevelopment presents a unique opportunity to link and develop vital bicycle routes in Melbourne's west.

Bicycle Network Victoria has asked to Planning Minister Justin Madden to seize the opportunity to incorporate key bike infrastructure elements into the project to unlock the potential of the new suburb for intensive bike travel.

The letter to the Minister states:

"First, I ask that you ensure that a riverside path on the south bank of the Maribyrnong from the Afton Street footbridge in the east to the Canning Street road bridge in the west is included in the project.

Second, this redevelopment presents you with your first opportunity to create a new suburb where a high proportion of commuting trips to shops, schools, stations and the CBD can be made by bike. As outlined in the Victorian Cycling Strategy, priority should be given to “network development in areas of high demand and growth, including the inner 10 km of Melbourne.” The Maribyrnong development falls into that category.

It is heartening to note that VicUrban has committed to “providing significant bicycle paths and walkways as part of the development, integrated with and enhancing existing paths and networks.” On top of this commitment, we are asking you to identify a broader network to link the new suburb to its larger neighbourhood.

In our view, the development should be linked to the surrounding area via the following range of routes:

• A connection to Epsom Road and a commuting route to the CBD
• A route along Holmes Road to provide access to public transit at Moonee Ponds Station
• Access to the Steele Creek trail and the growth suburbs and schools beyond via a new footbridge at the creek parklands
• Access to Highpoint Shopping Centre and Maribyrnong Secondary College to the south
• A connection to Sunshine in the west, to access destinations like Victoria University, Sunshine Marketplace, the industrial employers in the area, and the Kororoit Creek path.

These additional connections will contribute to the status of this development as one of the most progressive and unique planning projects in Melbourne.

We ask that you commission a consultant to report how the above-nominated routes and any other similarly valuable connections can be integrated into the Maribyrnong development. This study would identify the bicycle infrastructure that would connect to each destination. Using this document, Councils, VicRoads and other agencies can implement a high-use network based around the new suburb."

The opportunity for forward-thinking planning is clear, and the development of this site will be watched with interest. 

Safety problems close bridge over Maribyrnong [now re-opened]

30 June 2008. The Newsome Street bike and pedestrian bridge across the Maribyrnong River in Ascot Vale has been closed until further notice.

Although only built in 1995, the laminated wood beams supporting the bridge have deteriorated, raising safety concerns.

The structure is located about 1.5 kilometres south of  the Raleigh Road bridge and 1 kilometre north of  the Fisher Parade / Farnsworth Avenue Bridge near Flemington Racecource. It crosses from the Riverside Golf Driving Range to the Pipemakers Park.

The bridge is lightly used by bike riders.

Neighboring councils, Maribyrnong and Mooney Valley, will signpost alternative routes.

Chifley Drive Link

March 06 Parks Victoria have recently completed a vital link in the Maribyrnong River Trail. Starting at the Raleigh Road Bridge (Anglers' Tavern, western side of river) you can now ride on the new section all the way around to the Afton Street Bridge.

Footbridge repainting

December 06 The bridge crossing the Maribyrnong River between Medway Golf Course, to the south and the rear of Ahearn Place to the north (Melways 27 F9) is open again after a six month closure for maintenance. 

June 06 Melbourne Water is repainting the bridge crossing the Maribyrnong River between the Medway Golf Course to the south, and the rear of Ahern Place to the north (Melways 27 F9).

The bridge will be closed from 29 May 2006 with the work expected to be complete by 1 December 2006.

For more information contact Wayne Charlton (Project Manager) on 03 9235 7253.

Afton St Conservation Park, Aberfeldie

Jun 05 The draft Masterplan by Moonee Valley Council to develop a park on the river (Melway 28 A5) includes a trail through the park between Afton St and the Maribyrnong River Trail at the north end of the park. Initial plans did not include allowances for cyclists to ride through the park.