Bicycle Network: Metro Routes

Rail underpass underway at Werribee River Trail

4 April 2013. Works are underway to complete a link beneath the Geelong rail line on the Werribee River Trail.

A 300m boardwalk under the rail bridge and above the Werribee Rive will connect  the north and southern sections of the trail via a grade separated path.

The path will connect Werribee Park to Cottrell Street and will provide a safe access route for people to access Werribee train station, the Werribee City Centre and shopping district.

The $1.39 million project was primarily funded by Wyndham Council, together with $200,00 in funding from DPCD, $175,000 in funding from Parks Victoria, and a portion of land to be used for the link generously donated some years ago by an adjoining property owner.

The development of the link has been a long process for Wyndham City Council, with negotiations necessary with both VicTrack and Melbourne Water to achieve a successful outcome.

Works on the path and bridge are expected to be complete in June 2013.

Show your appreciation and say thank you to Wyndham City Council for their contribution to connecting the trail. Click here for a link to email Wyndham Mayor and Councillors.

Bicycle Network has long emphasized the importance of this link, and support from the local Wyndham Bicycle User Group and local MP Andrew Elsbury was vital.

Election opportunity for candidates to show support

15 August 2012 Bicycle Network Victoria has identified this project as a local council priority for the 2012 Local Government election.

The path on the eastern side needs to be continued under the rail bridge, between Cottrell Street and Combden Drive, to connect into the central area.

Candidates should be ready to support the development and full or partial funding of this project in conjunction with State Government and can tell riders in their Council area their position by posting their candidates' statement at VoteBike.

Werribee River bike bridge complete

20 April 2011. The 70 metre bridge across the Werribee River is completed and now waits for the final link into the Werribee River Trail and the Federation Trail from Melbourne.

The new 5.3 metre wide bridge sits atop the new sewer aqueduct over the River.

Wyndham City, Parks Victoria, Melbourne Water, VicRoads and VicUrban are in negotiations to finalise plans for the new aqueduct path to link existing and planned bicycle and pedestrian paths.

Parks Victoria have proposed a new path from this location into the Werribee Mansion, the golf club, Werribee Open Range Zoo and the National Equestrian Centre.

This is expected to be constructed in the next 18 months.

The extended Federation Trail over the new aqueduct will also give access to VicUrban’s latest housing development in Werribee, ‘Riverwalk’, which is planned to have extensive bike infrastructure.

It will also connect into the planned Werribee River Regional Park being developed by Parks Victoria.

The bridge surface adn smooth safety barriers on this bridge are good examples. For more information on designing and building bridges and boardwalks see our Good Design Guide page Boardwalks & Bridges

Werribee River aqueduct replacement will cause temporary diversions

9 January 2009. The replacement of the Werribee River aqueduct that is scheduled to begin shortly will cause temporary diversions in the near-term, but will deliver a shared path bridge on top of the new structure that will extend the Federation Trail across the River.

The new aqueduct bridge will allow the Werribee River Trail to connect to the proposed Werribee Park River Trail that is expected to be built by Parks Victoria within the next 18 months. The aqueduct bridge therefore, is a useful project that will deliver long-term benefits to riders.

The diversions will also affect the Federation Trail.

The Pipelines Alliance, which is the managing authority for the project, has provided the following information about the project and associated diversions:

Werribee River aqueduct replacement

Temporary bike path diversions for the Federation Trail and Werribee River Trail
in Werribee

Melbourne Water is replacing a sewer aqueduct that crosses the Werribee River, north of the Princes Freeway in Werribee (Melway Ref. 244 J1). 

This work will commence in January 2009 and is expected to finish by mid-2010.

A temporary diversion of the Federation Trail and Werribee River Trail will be in place over this time to ensure cyclists can still ride as safely as possible between Melbourne, Geelong and Werribee, using the Federation Trail. These diversions will be in place from 22 January 2009.

The Pipelines Alliance consulted Wyndham City Council, VicRoads and Bicycle Network Victoria in developing these temporary diversions to maintain safety and minimise inconvenience for cyclists and pedestrians. Wyndham City Council and VicRoads, as owners of the Federation Trail and Werribee River Trail, have approved these diversion routes.

Details of the temporary diversions are outlined below and in Map 1.

Geelong-Melbourne cyclists

Cyclists travelling from Geelong to Melbourne - exit the Princes Freeway (Melbourne-bound) at an alternative exit, which has been established for the duration of the works. The alternative exit is 100 metres further east along the Freeway from the existing exit (see Map 2).

Cyclists travelling from Melbourne to Geelong – will be diverted across the Duncans Road overpass in Werribee to access the Princes Freeway (Geelong-bound). Cyclists will need to use the freeway shoulder with care from Duncans Road (see Map 3). Cyclists are advised to dismount to cross Duncans Road.

Melbourne-Werribee cyclists

Cyclists travelling from Melbourne to Werribee - use the existing Federation Trail to the Werribee River and then follow signs along an alternative connection to the Werribee River Trail, which has been established for the duration of the works (see Map 3).

Cyclists travelling from Werribee to Melbourne - use the existing Werribee River Trail and then follow signs along an alternative connection to the Federation Trail, which has been established for the duration of the works. Cyclists then follow the existing Federation Trail to Melbourne (see Map 3).

Werribee-Geelong cyclists

Cyclists travelling from Werribee to Geelong – use the existing Werribee River Trail and follow signs to an alternative connection to the Federation Trail. Note there is no access to the Princes Freeway (Geelong-bound) at the Werribee River. Cyclists are diverted along the Federation Trail to Duncans Road where they can access the Princes Freeway for Geelong. This is a diversion of approximately 5 kilometres (see Maps 2 and 3).

Cyclists travelling from Geelong to Werribee - exit the Princes Freeway (Melbourne-bound) at an alternative exit, which has been established for the duration of the works. The alternative exit is 100 metres further along the Freeway from the existing exit (see Map 2).

Reinstatement of site and bicycle paths following completion of works

The Pipelines Alliance is building the new aqueduct as a bicycle and pedestrian bridge to help connect existing and planned shared paths, parks and residential developments in the area.

The new bicycle and pedestrian bridge will be built with platforms for viewing the heritage-listed Melbourne Outfall Sewer structure and a new resting place near an existing water fountain on the Federation Trail.

The site will also be revegetated and landscaped to minimise the visual impact of the structure using indigenous species consistent with Melbourne Water and Wyndham City Council requirements.

Background about the Werribee Aqueduct replacement project

The Werribee Aqueduct

The Werribee Aqueduct takes up to 60% of Melbourne’s sewage to the Western Treatment Plant in Werribee and is a critical asset in Melbourne’s sewer system.

The current aqueduct has reached the end of its life and must be replaced.

This project is part of a major, five-year program of works to improve Melbourne’s sewerage and drainage systems.  The program is being delivered by the Pipelines Alliance, a partnership between Fulton Hogan, Jaydo Construction, GHD and Melbourne Water.

Construction works

A new aqueduct - measuring 5.4 metres in height and 5.4 metres in width and spanning 70 metres across the Werribee River - will be constructed and the existing concrete aqueduct will be removed. The heritage-listed, red brick aqueduct built in the 1890s will be protected and will not be removed.

Construction works will commence in January 2009 and are expected to finish in mid-2010.

Call the Pipelines Alliance on 1800 108 636 (toll free) or send an email to pipelinesalliance@melbournewater.com.au for more information about this project.

Or call Melbourne Water on 131 722 or visit melbournewater.com.au for general information about other projects to secure a sustainable water future.

The Pipelines Alliance is a partnership between Fulton Hogan,
Jaydo, GHD and Melbourne Water

Parks Victoria Metropolitan Trail Network Grant delivers funding

04 December 2008. $175,000 in funding from the Parks Victoria MTN program has allowed Wyndham Council to proceed with completing the final outstanding section of the Werribee River Trail upgrade.

This funding will help build the section of the Trail from Cottrell Street to Wyndham Park (near the bottom pin on the map at right). This will make the path continuous for over seven kilometers and ensure that it links to the Federation Trail and ease access to the Werribee CBD and Werribee train Station.

Werribee River Trail improvements

28 July 08 Wyndham Council has recently completed improvements to the Werribee River Bike Trail, widening the path to a 2.4m span and resurfacing a total of 1.5 km's of path in sections from:

a) Heaths Road to Golden Avenue;

b) Manorvale Primary School to Outlook Drive and;

c) River View Drive to Cottrell Street.

These sections are marked in orange on the map to the right under the "what we are asking for" column.

These heavily trafficked sections running along both sides of the Werribee River, passing Manorvale Primary School and nearing Werribee Station at the southern end, will benefit from the upgraded surface. The new sections were formerly bitumen-topped, but are now finished in concrete, as is the rest of that stretch of the trail.

Wyndham Council spent $235,000 on upgrading the path, and should be congratulated on taking action to improve bike riding facilities in their jurisdiction.

The trail continues south to link up with the Federation Trail. There is currently a gap in the trail near Werribee Station due to the complexity of the rail bridges in the area that cross the river. Council is now working on securing funding to proceed with connecting this section, which has our full support. This section is marked in red on the map at the right, and navigates a short section between Cottrell Street and Wyndham Park.