By Pierre Vairo
Despite being completed and ready for use, an important bike and pedestrian link remains off limits to residents due to a dispute related to the West Gate Tunnel Project.
A source close to the tunnel project says contractual disputes between the builder and councils over graffiti and maintenance are preventing the ‘Rainbow Bridge’ at West Melbourne from being opened to cyclists and pedestrians.
The newly constructed walking and cycling bridge over North Melbourne station, that BikeWest has dubbed ‘Rainbow Bridge’ after its brightly coloured side panels, replaces a narrow footpath on the curved Dynon Road bridge that once linked the Dynon Road bike path to Spencer Street in West Melbourne.
That footpath remains closed, forcing pedestrians and cyclists to detour via Arden Street in Kensington or via the flood-prone Moonee Ponds Creek Trail. This has led to repeated farcical scenes of commuter cyclists, trying to reach CBD destinations, forced to carry their bikes and tip-toe atop a concrete flood wall. Awkward for everyone, but unworkable for elderly or disabled cyclists.
The opening of ‘Rainbow Bridge’ would create a relatively safe cycling path between the Maribyrnong River and the CBD that parallels Transburban’s much touted ‘Veloway’ above Footscray Road. The Dynon Road route may very well rival the Veloway for popularity amongst Western Suburbs bicycle commuters.
Responding to community concerns, the MP for Western Metropolitan Region, David Ettershank, called on the Minister responsible for the West Gate Tunnel Project, Danny Pearson, to explain why these important safe cycling links remain closed to the public. The minister replied by saying “We are working with the parties involved in delivering the West Gate Tunnel Project to have parts of the new and upgraded walking and cycling paths opened as soon as possible. While a lot of the work has been done on these paths, there are still some outstanding matters that need to be resolved before the paths can safely open.” The minister did not specify what “outstanding matters” needed to be resolved.
The West Gate Tunnel Project says “There are still ongoing works on other infrastructure in the area. Cyclists should continue to use the existing path network.” Unfortunately the existing network is dominated by trucks and dangerous intersections that have claimed too many lives, and led to too many horrific life-changing injuries to folks who were simply trying to get from A to B on their bikes.
