Local residents and cycling groups have helped to shape the Western Distributor’s almost 10km of new and improved cycling and pedestrian paths.
The Western Distributor will complete the “missing link” of the Federation Trail between Williamstown Road and Hyde Street building 3.5km of upgrades along this important route.
The Federation Trail has long been identified as a strategic cycling corridor providing an accessible travel route for cyclists travelling to the city and beyond.
Nearly 1km of new fully separated cycling and walking paths has been included in the Reference Design for the Western Distributor linking Somerville Road/Whitehall Street intersections to the Maribyrnong River, and the pedestrian crossing over the West Gate Freeway will be rebuilt to make the paths more accessible to the community.
Cyclists will be separated from Footscray Road intersections by elevating the shared path at MacKenzie Road, Dock Link Road and Appleton Dock Road so cyclists do not need to cross the intersections.
A large number of cyclists will be able to use new connections between the Dynon Road shared path and Capital City Trail, Moonee Ponds Creek Trail and Spencer Street with the addition of two new dedicated crossings. The Capital City Trail crossing at Footscray Road will also be upgraded.
Areas where improvements to the cycling and footpath network could be made were a direct result of the extensive consultation undertaken on the project.
The upgrades will mean the bicycle and shared user path network in the inner west will be safer and more efficient, with cyclists having better connections from the outer west all the way to the CBD.
The Western Distributor is currently out to tender and the preparation of an Environment Effects Statement has commenced. The contract will be signed by late 2017 with construction to start soon after.
For more information go to the West Gate Tunnel Authority's Walking and cycling page.