The state government has announced funding for a section of an important east-west bike connection through Hobsons Bay.
When completed, the route will take riders from Williamstown through Newport and North Altona to Altona, for the most part along the rail corridor.
It will form part of a network of routes that will connect to the city via Hall Street or the Bay Trail, to the Bay Trail West via Maddox Road, to the Federation Trail via the Kororoit Creek Trail, to the Mason Street route and numerous local attractions.
Several level crossing projects on the rail corridor will provide opportunities for further links and connections to be filled in.
The funding is for a section of Ross Road where a new sealed shared path will also be built linking Blenheim Road and Mills Street, along with fencing between the road and rail line.
This section is currently gravel and is usually closed off except for use by the soccer club for car parking.
A further link to the east is expected to connect to Railway Parade after the completion of the Maddox Road level crossing project.
Some of the route will be on off-road trails and some on low-traffic streets.
The new trail segment is one of several initiatives across the inner west to seal remaining gravel and dirt roads to lift air quality.
Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne said: “We promised we’d make air cleaner in Melbourne’s inner west and that’s what we’re doing – sealing roads to reduce dust pollution and providing better and safer facilities our communities deserve.”