Bicycle Network: Regional Routes

Missing Link still, well, missing!

July 2012 The Geelong Ring Road Project is still awaiting a critical missing link to be solved. Despite many positive discussions with VicRoads, Council and State Government riders are still wondering why the missing Link between Church St and Fyansford Common is still languishing. Riders could be taking advantage of the exisitng path around the Ring Road from north Corio and linking up to the Barwon River Trails into the central geelong area but alas no solid commitment exists to solve this malaise.

Section 4C to get a path but where is the question

August 2010 Bicycle Network Victoria has been contacted by the Ring Road Project Team to discuss the proposed alignment of a path along Section 4C, between Angelsea Rd and the Surf Coast Highway. Whilst Armstrong Creek has been announced as a future development corridor, this may not come to fruition for decades, particluarly in the northern area of the precinct, closer to the Ring Rd nad Rail corridor. The alignment proposed by the project team and the South West VicRoads region is sandwhiched in between the Ring Road and the Rail line. With no residents to the south for many years and a burgeoning population in place today to the north of the railway line Bicycle Network Victoria believes that the path may be a better investment to the north of the rail corridor.

With the Deakin University Campus to the north west only a few kilometres away and Marshall Station to the east, a path along the waterpipe easement can connect the dots. We have raised this issue with the region, the project office and Minister Pallas and further discussions have been committed to.

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View Geelong Bypass - Section 4C in a larger map

First missing link announced. Now off to University

6 May 2009 Within the recently released State Bicycle Strategy the solution we had all been campaigning for was finally committed. The Project Office has entered negotiations with Council and the developer of the section of land between Church St and Fyansford Common. This is a fantastic result for riders in the area and will mean that the Northern section of the Bypass path now connects into the existing path network.

Our position has always stated that the Bypass project should include a connection to Deakin University in Waurn Ponds. Previously the commitment was only as far as Church Street. We now understand that the Project is investigating the continuation of the path to go the full distance. This next section has not had an alignment identified as yet and will present a challenge.

The Bypass corridor travels up and over Wandana Heights at Barrabool Rd; a significant gradient between the Barwon River and Barraboool Rd presents a challenging ride for many and currently is relatively isolated. East of here there are a number of proposals to develop the area which may build a greater demand for this alignment. Refer to the yellow area indicated on the map, right.

Bicycle Network Victoria has also posed the option of taking the connection around the hill, thus avoiding the gradient issues, and through a densely populated area in Highton along Bee Vue Rd and further south then back across to Deakin University. This would represent a high return investment for government not only in recreation terms but also provide a transport function to the many schools and activity centres along this corridor.

We will be sitting down with the project office to go through the challenges in more detail in the coming weeks, and will report further once we know more. 

Geelong Bypass path a rider's 'Road to Nowhere'

Feb 08 Bicycle Network Victoria has written to Minister Pallas following VicRoads' announcement to the Victoria Bicycle Advisory Council that VicRoads would not be constructing the path south of Church Street, leaving a 1.3km gap to the Barwon River Path at the Fyansford Common.

Our position has always been that a bypass that connects Beckley Park in the north to Deakin University in the south should be provided with a complementary bike path. There is a substantial population alongside the bypass with many destinations. Similar paths have been constructed alongside bypass projects in Craigieburn and Cranbourne.

We have been trying to find a compromise position on a path associated with Stage 3 and believe the Barwon River to University section of the ‘bypass path’ is better situated on another alignment to the actual bypass which climbs a long, steep and unpopulated hill. We have also accepted that the River to University section will not be built as part of the bypass on the condition that it will be constructed as part of the VicRoads bicycle program. We believe we have had an in-principle agreement from VicRoads about this.

We cannot accept, however, that the Stage 2 section of the bypass path will run out at Church St and not connect to the existing trail system at Fyansford Common. Now that the VicRoads position is clear, we are asking VicRoads to immediately complete this important path connection.

Light at the end of the tunnel appearing for the Bypass Trail to Fyansford

Sep 07 A developer is currently lodging a planning application for a residential development between Church St and Fyansford Common. This is positive news because the planning permit will require construction of a trail to close the gap in Stage 2 of the Geelong Bypass Trail (see below for details).

However, trail construction could be many years away if it is left to occur at the same time as the residential development (as initially proposed by the VicRoads Geelong Bypass office).

We are currently working with VicRoads to ensure the trail is built before the residential development occurs. This will require discussions with the developer and Greater Geelong City Council. It is also possible that some funding may be required to assist the developer to construct the trail early.

We are seeking an assurance from VicRoads that they are committed to funding and building a link between Church St and Fyansford Common. Unfortunately the VicRoads Geelong Bypass office is refusing to commit to finishing the trail at the moment.

If VicRoads are successful in building the missing link, Geelong's bike path network could extend from Corio to Fyansford and Geelong's CBD by September 2008. Please click on "email me updates" above, to stay up to date.

May 07 Unfortunately, progress has been slow in getting a commitment from VicRoads to build the bypass trail into Fyansford Common and the broader Geelong bike path network. Currently the VicRoads bypass trail will stop almost a kilometre short of Fyansford at Church St.

The previous idea was that the developer of the land between Church St and Fyansford would build the missing section of trail. However this is not assured and it seems unlikely that the development will go ahead within the next five to ten years.

We have been seeking a commitment from VicRoads that a trail to Fyansford Common will be built when the road is finished in 2008. While this is not an easy job due to land access issues and some hills, the importance of this link cannot be understated.

Bicycle Network Victoria and local advocates are continuing to work with VicRoads to get this trail built. Currently VicRoads are assessing the technical feasibility of different trail options. Once the best option for a trail has been agreed on we will be expecting the Geelong Bypass project to commit to building the trail by the time the bypass opens.

Obviously there is still some way to go in getting the best result for riders. Please click on "email me updates" above, to stay up to date and be informed of ways you can help the trail be built.

Mixed blessings from bypass trail design.

Jan 07 The Bypass project office has now finalised the designs for the offroad path alongside the bypass and the results are a mixed blessing for riders. You will be able to ride in the Emergency Lane of the bypass.

The offroad shared path at Bacchus Marsh Rd and Anakie Rd overpasses will be diverted out toward road crossings with traffic lights, rather than tunnels.

As the current landowner of the area between Church St and Fyansford Common has withdrawn from agreements to develop the area and taken the matter to court, the intended path link between these two points now seems very unlikely.

Bicycle Network Victoria has met on numerous occassions with the VicRoads project office to ensure the path gets built over the last two years, however they have not committed to building the trail. This is very dissapointing because the $4m trail VicRoads is constructing along the bypass will not be connected to the existing bike path network, will not connect to Geelong's parks or central business district, and will be innaccessible for most Geelong residents.

Stage 3 - Hamilton Hwy to Colac Rd

Riders will be allowed along the Bypass heading south between Barrabool Rd and Colac Rd only.

The offroad path is not a VicRoads priority south of the Barwon River as they will look to as-yet unidentified developers to provide these links. This is extremely dissappointing as Geelong residents should expect a high quality bike path to Deakin University to be built as a part of the project, but it will not happen in the near future.

Bicycle Network Victoria is pursuing better outcomes at the highest level within VicRoads and the State Government. Click on "email me updates" to be kept informed and updated when your help may be needed.

Aug 07 Stage 3 of the Bypass now has a chosen route between Barrabool Rd and Colac Rd at Deakin University. We are currently speaking with VicRoads to find a rideable solution between Church St (Stage 2) and Deakin University to the south, which would complete a perimeter offroad route around the Geelong area.

Jun 06 We have been making considerable effort to scope what has been happening in Geelong recently. VicRoads has begun construction on the Geelong Bypass Project at the northern end in Corio, with Stage 1 due to be completed early 2008 and Stage 2 later that same year. As part of this effort they have committed to building an offroad shared path from Broderick Rd to Church St in Herne Hill. For an overview of the project visit the VicRoads website or view a map of the project. While we are generally happy with the proposed design route of the shared path, there are some intersections that concern us and we will be pushing for a more bike-friendly solution to these elements.

Aug 05 Another long-awaited project has recently been announced by VicRoads: the Geelong Bypass Project. This project will see the creation of a freeway bypass extending west from the Princess Freeway in Hovell Park, North Geelong and rejoining the freeway at Deakin University. The first section of the project from the Corio Interchange to the Midland Highway is being tendered, with tenders due on 14 September 2005. A 3m wide shared use path has been included in the tender for this section which will be constructed by the end of 2007.

The remainder of the proposed path network accompanying this freeway construction will be built by a combination of VicRoads and developers, with the intent to use existing council paths around the Barwon River. Currently, there are no plans to continue the path from Barrabool Road to Deakin University. Bicycle Network Victoria will work with VicRoads and the City of Greater Geelong to attempt to include a more direct path near the Barwon River section and to extend the path to Deakin University. We believe this is a vital link in the network and would then provide the opportunity for people living in the suburbs of Geelong to access their local university by bike. Moltoni Developers has proposed extending this shared path from Church St to Fyansford, where the existing paths lead across the Fyansford Common and link up with the Barwon River Trail on both sides of the river. We are currently working towards a solution south of Barwon River so that you will be able to ride all the way to Deakin University in Waurn Ponds.

The area south of the Barwon entails some issues as the route of Stage 3 of the Bypass project has not been finalised and there are currently no plans to complete the path through this vital link. Cyclists will be allowed to ride on the Bypass to accomodate the higher intensity road riders. As these issues may become more pressing in the near future, we may be calling upon you to help us with our efforts to achieve a better result for Geelong resident cyclists, so please click on the link to the right to be automatically alerted to any updates of this page.

Stage Two - Midland Hwy to Hamilton Hwy

Riders will not be allowed to ride along the bypass between Midland Hwy and Barrabool Rd.

The offroad path will be built to Church St and that currently represents the extent of the offroad path.

Stage One - Broderick Rd to Midland Hwy. A good, but not great, result for riders.