The connection between the Main Yarra Trail and the Walmer Street Bridge in Abbotsford has been officially opened.
The opening ceremony was staged by Salta Properties, which constructed the riverside precinct as part of its neighbouring apartment development.
Along with the City of Boroondara's concurrent development of a new ramp on the northern side of the river, the main Yarra Trail is now properly connected along and across the river.
On the southern side, connecting ramps enable riders and walkers on the river trail to ride up and over the bridge, turn into the Plaza and through to Victoria Street, or head down Shamrock Street and the local residential neighbourhood.
Most importantly, the precinct will also connect to the future extension of the main Yarra Trail alongside the brewery site, which is expected to be constructed when the brewery relocates.
Bicycle Network President James Garriock, speaking at the opening, said the Walmer Street Bridge was one of the oldest and most important crossings of the Yarra because the trail along the river crosses to the other side at this point.
"While the bridge is important historically, it will be even more important as inner Melbourne densifies and our old industrial neighbourhoods are adapted to housing.
"There will be large numbers of people living here in the decades to come and with roads saturated, the best option for travel will be public transport, walking and cycling.
"One great feature of this new structure is how it has allowed for future development of a trail alongside the brewery site and through to Gipps Street.
"On behalf of Melbourne’s riders, I would like to thank Salta Properties for the work they have done on this side of the river, and the City of Boroondara for their work on the other side.
"We appreciate the opportunity Salta gave us to contribute to the design of this precinct. We were critical of the original 2016 proposals but the company was open to feedback and it was a productive experience working through a number of iterations of the design to get to the splendid result we see today."
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