Bicycle bridge finish for trail

By Casey Neill
A LONG-AWAITED safe rail trail link is finally complete.
The $3.5 million pedestrian and cyclist bridge over Maroondah Highway connecting the Warburton to Lilydale Rail Trail is finished, Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder announced this month.
VicRoads, Parks Victoria and Yarra Ranges Council jointly funded the project.
“The architecturally designed bridge incorporates elements of previous railway bridges and reflects its role as a ‘gateway’ to Lilydale and the Yarra Valley,” Mr Mulder said.
He said historically the trail started at the Lilydale railway station and followed the old railway alignment, but since the old railway bridge was removed there had been no crossing over the Maroondah Highway at Lilydale.
Evelyn MP Christine Fyffe said the new bridge meant improved safety and increased tourism.
Billanook Ward councillor Tim Heenan agreed.
“But more importantly it will provide a way to safely cross the road and better connect the kids and families crossing with prams,” he said.
“It’s definitely a long time coming.”
Work on the highway crossing began in April last year. Hundreds turned out beneath the stars to watch workers assemble the new bridge at 3am on 15 January.
Giant cranes lifted the 143-tonne, 90-metre long bridge into place while excited locals looked on from the roadside.
Construction crews built it at a Coldstream truck stop before carefully lifting the structure onto large trucks and relocating it to its new home near Queens Road.
Dandenong Ranges Tourist Information Centre’s Michael Axel said there had been a significant increase in people bringing their bikes with them to the area via public transport and they would now be able to enjoy everything the hills had to offer.
“The bridge is just so right,” he said.
“It’s a perfect fit.”
Chandler Ward Councillor Graham Warren last year said the project’s announcement that there was already a great buzz and excitement over the bridge and completion of the trail. “The traders are particularly excited over another avenue to attract more customers into their townships,” he said.
But Cr Warren remained cautious over the possible clash between bikes and pedestrians on the bridge.
“As a council, we need to understand this because it’s going to be at least a 100 per cent increase once the bridge goes in,” he said.
“It’s an issue on share trails right around the state, and we need to understand the issue and work out how we can get through that.”