Inner: Sandridge Rail Trail

Sandridge Rail Trail Re-opens

2 December 2009.  The Southbank Tram Depot Extension works are complete leaving behind a high quality path for cyclists and pedestrians.

The tram track works to the west of the existing depot had impacts on the Sandridge Rail path to Port Melbourne by causing the path to be moved and rebuilt and requiring a new shared path bridge over Montague St.

As reported here in May the sequence of events began well with consultation in Dec 2008. However in April 2009 the draft plans as received by Bicycle Victoria for comment were found to be in need of ‘serious reworking given unacceptably narrow squeeze points down to 1.5 m'.

After some unsuccessful meetings with the engineering consultants Bicycle Victoria’s concerns were flagged at a higher management level. Management listened and substantial and costly changes were made to give the high quality path of 3m plus width which was opened in November.

The efforts of Yarra Trams staff in eventually achieving a good outcome for all cyclists and all path users are greatly appreciated.

M1 Freeway impact

Cyclists can now also appreciate the reinstated line marked path around a new pillar built for the M1 upgrade. Although not as good as the original path alignment the M1 team have reinstated the path to an acceptable standard given the constraints of the freeway. As cyclists please take care on the bend.

Sandridge Rail Trail Detour

16 Sep 2009. Local cyclists will have found their way around the Yarra Trams stabling extension project which is currently blocking the Sandridge Trail. However for others who find that vandals have taken the detour signs here is how you can follow the detour. The works began on July 13 and are expected to take 12 weeks.

Port Melbourne bound: detour commences at city end of tram depot under the Westgate freeway; simply head straight down Normanby Rd (southwest) across Montague St and continue to Ingles St where you turn left to reach the original Trail. Turn right to Port Melbourne.City bound: detour commences at Ingles St where you turn left along Ingles st to Normanby Rd where you trun right and follow Normanby Rd across Montague St to city end of tram depot.Take care riding around the new pillar erected as part of the Westgate upgrade. The path has been reinstated with line marking and signing to ensure cyclists travel carefully given the narrow path and reduced sight distance.

Keep Clear speeds bike traffic

15 July 2009. A simple 'Keep Clear' sign painted on Inglis Street has greatly improved the the Sandridge Rail Trail route from Port Melbourne to the city.

The Trail is a great route from the city to Port Phillip Bay but bike riders were constantly blocked at the Inglis Street crossing by cars stopping across the path.

Now that the sign is on the road car drivers are generally keeping the path route clear.

Steps like this are to be applauded. Often it is the minor but frequently overlooked details which make the difference between effective road facilities for riders, and inferior, token efforts. 

Path wins reprieve from tram truncation

7 May 2009. Bikes have come back to the fore in a welcome development in the South Melbourne Tram Depot project.

The Department of Transport, Yarra Trams and Bicycle Victoria have agreed upon a new design that avoids cutting back the width of the path.

An earlier mistake in the design process had severely jeopardized the quality of this route.

The designers have sharpened their pencils and redrafted the layout of the tram stabling project.

They have managed to achieve a minimum three metre path as requested, with a realignment of the path through to Ingles St. The new path alignment is indicated in yellow, below. The green lines indicate the original design. The stakeholders have agreed to move the entire arrangement north to accomodate the path.

 

 

Riders will be able to breathe a sigh of relief if the recently revised design proceed

Tram track realignment threatens to strangle path

22 April 2009. A mistake in plans for the expansion of the South Melbourne Tram Depot could result in a serious compromise in the capacity and quality of the path to Port Melbourne.

During discussions on the Depot expansion earlier this year Bicycle Victoria explained to the project team that changes to the path alignment resulting from the depot expansion would require the re-institution of a minimum three metre wide path, with maximum offsets to surrounding structures and good sight lines.

However, at a recent briefing the designers, Hyder Consulting, presented plans showing the path narrowing to less than 1.5m at the depot.

This breach of standards and of previous undertakings is of extreme concern; it appears the path has been sacrificed in order to meet other design objectives. Bicycle Victoria is now working intensely with Department of Transport (DOT) and Yarra Trams to try and fix this mess.

The diagram below shows the original design, where the path narrows down to 148cm wide (yellow).

The primary challenge in this scenario is to accomodate the major 'scissors' tram track interchange. Our input has led to some minor adjustments (shown in red). Despite these modifications we believe the result will be a major loss for bikes.

DOT and Yarra trams have been requested to review the plans in order to ensure that the quality of the Port Melbourne path is not diminshed as a result of the changes at the depot.

Beware of the Borer

22 September 2008. Bike traffic on the Port Melbourne commute along the Sandridge Rail Trail will be affected by the boring of a tunnel for the replacement Melbourne main sewer over the next four years.

Riders on the Southbank to Port Melbourne shared path have recently faced restrictions on their ride at Normanby Rd and at Fennel Reserve at Ingles Street. Two major projects are underway.

1. Melbourne Water is occupying Fennel Reserve as part of a major upgrade to the Melbourne Main Sewer, originally built in the 1890s. A tunnel boring machine will be launched from the Reserve, from where it will head south to Swallow Street. The tunneling works from the Fennel Reserve site will continue until 2012. (For project details see: www.melbournewater.com/melbournemain)

At Fennel Reserve a timber wall has been built without the desirable 500mm clearance to the shared path. Fortunately however the path is generally a good width in that area. Cyclists will need to take extra care on approaching Ingles St, where one cannot now see cyclists or pedestrians around the corner on the Ingles St footpath and crossing. Bicycle Victoria has been liaising with the City of Port Phillip to improve the level of safety on this corner on the Trail. As a result Melbourne Water's contractor, John Holland, has agreed to install warning signs and linemarking on the footpath so as to make the corner safer.

2. The second major project affecting the Trail is the West Gate Freeway Upgrade works. Where the West Gate Freeway crosses over Normanby Rd, works are affecting the shared path. Current works are for the foundations for a column to support the freeway widening. Later work will include erecting beams, a new freeway deck and erecting permanent concrete barriers or parapets.

Riders currently face a sign where the West Gate Freeway crosses over Normanby Rd advising: 'Path Narrows Cyclists Dismount'. The West Gate Freeway Upgrade works will continue at Normanby Rd until about September 2009, however the West Gate Freeway Alliance has told BV that the shared path next to Normanby Rd and the Port Melbourne Light Rail will return to its original condition (or as close as possible) before the end of the year.

The construction team has advised it will take approximately three months to complete that part of the works. In the meantime, please be patient and take care. If you would like more information about the West Gate Freeway Upgrade, please contact the project team on 1300 881 137 or email info@mcwupgrade.com.au

 

 

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