One of the most important bike routes across Melbourne’s north will be revamped in a transport and urban design project launched by the City of Merri-bek.
The Munro Street-Harding Street corridor spans Coburg from Pascoe Vale in the west across to the Merri Creek in the east; a 3km link to a raft of attractions – schools, railway stations, sporting facilities, shopping precincts and major north-south bike routes.
It is a designated strategic cycling corridor in the Melbourne metropolitan network and a key connection in the municipality’s local bike plans.
Many riders use it currently, but the route has major shortcomings and is compromised by a large volume of through traffic that really should be using the Bell Street arterial just one block to the north.
As an important bus route, catering for pedestrians will be important, but bus routes also constrain options for other road users.
To initiate planning for the future project the council has opened public consultation to seek feedback and ideas for the future of the street.
https://conversations.merri-bek.vic.gov.au/improving-harding-munro-street
The council wisely envisages a project that goes beyond just transport, including street calming and safety improvements, environmental upgrades with more vegetation, as well as designs elements to improve attractiveness for users of the street and for local businesses.
Preliminary designs based on this consultation will be developed and presented for further consultation next year.
The timeframe for the improvements will depend on the council budget and external funding opportunities, but it is anticipated that some sections of the corridor will undergo construction in the 2026/27 financial year, with further improvements in the years following.
There are pop-up information sessions:
- Saturday 23 November at Coburg Farmer's Market, 8am-1pm;
- Tuesday 26 November, opposite 5 Munro Street, in the southwest corner of the Louisa Street car park, 4pm-6pm.
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