Thursday 2 February 2012

$475,000 Footscray Road bike path upgrade underway

The Hon Terry Mulder MP
Minister for Public Transport
Minister for Roads


Bicycle and pedestrian improvement works are underway on Footscray Road from Docklands Drive to Maribyrnong River, Minister for Roads Terry Mulder said today.

Mr Mulder said the $475,000 project would improve safety and efficiency for pedestrians and cyclists riding between the CBD and the outer north-western suburbs.

“The Footscray Road shared path is a priority route on the Principal Bicycle Network and provides an important link between Melbourne and the western suburbs,” Mr Mulder said.

“During the morning peak from 7am and 9am, up to 1,000 cyclists use this route to commute to and from central Melbourne.”

Mr Mulder said works included:

  • widening and reconstructing parts of the existing path under CityLink,
  • line marking with pedestrian and bicycle logos,
  • installing pedestrian fencing,
  • installing new pedestrian operated signals on the westbound service road, and
  • improved street lighting and vegetation trimming.

Mr Mulder said in the five year period ending 30 December 2009, there were 13 crashes involving cyclists on Footscray Road.

“Upgrading the shared path on Footscray Road will minimise impacts on other road users and provide increased safety, capacity and priority for cyclists and pedestrians,” Mr Mulder said.

Member for Northern Metropolitan Region Craig Ondarchie said the works were important.

“This is a particularly busy area for commuter cyclists during the week and family cyclists on weekends. This upgrade will provide improved safety for those riding to the city for work and encourage greater recreational cycling for inner city residents and families,” Mr Ondarchie said.

Mr Mulder said the Coalition Government was investing around $14.5 million in bicycle improvement works across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. VicRoads plans to complete the Footscray Road bike path works in the first half of this year.

Read more http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/NewsRoom/News+Releases/FootscrayRoadBikePathUpgradeUnderway.htm