Bicycle Network: Metro Routes

Steele Creek underpass unbuckled

9 June 2010. The Buckley Street underpass in Essendon, linking the Steele Creek Trail with the Maribyrnong River Trail, has opened.

The 4m wide underpass, funded by Moonee Valley City, the Department of Transport and VicRoads, creates an accessible route from the Maribyrnong Valley up through Melbourne's north-western suburbs.

It also provides better access for students from nearby St Bernard’s College and Rosehill Secondary College.

Although a number of imperfections currently hinders the navigability of the upstream Steele Creek path, the route has real potential.

The Mayor of Moonee Valley, Cr Shirley Cornish, said the underpass would contribute to increasing the number of pedestrians and cyclists in the area.

“The underpass will improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists who will no longer have to cross a busy main road.’’

Cr Cornish said the underpass project also included a Travel Smart plan for the two schools near the underpass.

“The schools experience traffic congestion at drop off and pick up times and the underpass will make it a more attractive and safer option to ride or walk to school,’’ she said.

“It could also help parents save money on travel and encourage students to be physically active.

“The underpass will also increase the transport options to future residents of the Valley Lake residential development at the site of the former Niddrie Quarry.’’

Dirt moves on Buckley Street Underpass

Serious earthmoving is underway on Buckley St to provide the planned Steele Creek underpass. Works started on Wednesday 21 October 2009 with completion expected in March 2010. The four metre wide underpass will be a great facility and we will watch the progress of works with interest.

Photo: Frank Kinnersley, Moonee Valley BUG

Essendon underpass underway

21 October 2009. Moonee Valley City Council today started of construction of a 4m wide, shared pedestrian and cyclist underpass that will link the two existing shared paths on either side of Buckley Street, Essendon, providing a vital link to the Maribyrnong

The underpass will provide a safe off-road connections between the Maribyrnong River Trail and the Steele Creek Trail and improved access and connection to St Bernard’s College and Rosehill Secondary College.

This project is funded through the Department of Transport’s Local Area Access Program with joint funding from VicRoads and the City of Moonee Valley.

The works will be undertaken in two stages and will involve the closure of Buckley Street in halves to allow for the construction of the underpass. Stage one will be completed by 18 December 2009 and stage two will begin on 10 January 2010 and will be completed by 5 March 2010.

Temporary traffic changes will be in place to enable two-way traffic to be maintained along Buckley Street.

Buckley St Shared Path nears completion

15 November 2008. A 1km, three metre wide concrete shared path - along Buckley St between Milleara Rd and Dickson St in Avondale Heights is very near completion.

Council welcomed the State Government funding which has supported two shared path projects in East Keilor and Avondale Heights to the tune of nearly half a million dollars.

The Buckley St shared path will complement the bicycle underpass of Buckley Street at Steele Creek for which design is underway. The construction of the underpass is now expected to take place in March / April 2009.

This route has been used as an informal path for many years. The creation of a proper shared path to Dickson St will not only make it safer for cyclists and pedestrians but also allows a link via Riviera Rd to the picturesque Steele Creek and Maribyrnong River trails.

These projects will complement the State Government’s work to improve public transport in the area through the Smart Bus program along Buckley St.

Underpass underway

 16 July 2008. Mooney Valley Council has began the tender process for work on the Buckley Street underpass linking the Steele Creek path to the Maribyrnong trail, with a design consultant expected to be appointed within weeks.

Construction will be programmed for the holiday period of January – February next year.

VicRoads will be consulted as part of the design process, although no problems are expected.

Buckley St Underpass announced

March 08 The State Government has announced $480,000 funding to build an underpass and short section of path to link the Steele Creek Path to the Maribyrnong River Path (refer red/orange lines on map, below). This is great news for the residents of Niddrie and Keilor East.

Currently the path stops on the north side of Buckley St (refer green line on map, below) with no link to the rest of the Metropolitan Trail Network. With the completion of this new link a new catchment of residents will have easy access to the network.

View Larger Map

However, once south of the Buckley St Underpass, city bound riders face a steep climb along the Maribyrnong River Path up to Lily St Park. Note: The underpass was moved to  better location after consultation with the community.

VicUrban have been appointed to redevelop the old Defence Site on the south side of the river and we believe this represents the best long term alignment for the the Maribyrnong River Path (refer pale blue line on map, above)