West: Western Ring Road Path

Deer Park Wellness Trail opens

28 July 2009. Mental health and art are a feature of the new 9km walking and cycling path running beside the Deer Park Bypass between Sunshine West and Caroline Springs.

The Trail has six rest stops featuring 30 mosaic artworks created by patients from Melbourne Health’s Adult Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit at Sunshine Hospital.

Riders travelling the Trail can pause at the seating stops and take in the views, the environment and the art.

Each mosaic panels represents an image reflective of the artist’s life experience. Next to each mosaic is the artist's message about how to keep well and happy.

According to the designers, seeing their art on permanent display for the enjoyment of others adds to the positive experience for patients living with mental illness.

The Wellness Trail was developed in a partnership between VicRoads, Leighton Contractors, NorthWestern Mental Health and creative arts therapist Carolyn Noel.

Western Ring Road path detour

09 September 2008 The Deer Park Bypass project will result in the temporary closure and re-routing of the bike path.

The last phase of the works at Fitzgerald Rd/Western Ring Rd interchange is now underway, involving drainage and earthworks, the placing of bridge beams over the Western Ring Rd, installation of noise walls and landscaping.

This will involve temporarily closing and re-routing the bike path (detour along The Avenue to Sunrise Dr) to enable construction of the noise wall foundations.

Leighton and VicRoads state that every effort is being made to minimise impact.

Get the map of the diversion here:

Upgrade of Path at Fitzgerald Road

Jul 07 VicRoads have advised that a temporary detour will be in place on the Western Ring Road near Fitzgerald Rd (Mel Ref 39 H3) till the end of October 2007.

The detour will be off road with road crossings on The Avenue and Fitzgerald Rd.

Bicycle Victoria have requested that VicRoads provide an alternate crossing point on The Avenue that is closer to Fitzgerald Rd as it's unlikely that riders will use the current crossing point (PDF 257KB).