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Queens Avenue connection open

The vital first leg of the strategic cycling corridor from Caulfield Station towards the southern suburbs is open to riders following a year of dilly-dallying.

The two-way path runs off-road along the Caulfield Racecourse perimeter to Neerim Road where it joins the previously constructed section to and beyond Glen Huntly Station.

The bike corridor along the Frankston line now reaches McKinnon Station. Eventually it will be continuous to Mordialloc where it will join the Bay Trail to Frankston.

The new section was first announced as part of the Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP) for Neerim and Glen Huntly Roads and the plans were consulted on and approved at that time.

But when it came time to start construction in February last year residents objected that there had been no consultation. Further they were concerned about tree loss, although the bike path project proposed to replace trees at a two-to-one ratio.

Various alternative options were explored but by this time the LXRP moved out and handed the project delivery to the City of Glen Eira.

The city has delivered a 2.5-metre two-way path rather than the standard 3 metres, so riders do need to take extra care, especially as southbound riders face oncoming traffic across the curb on the road. Those riders will tend to position closer to the centre line, further narrowing the effective width.

In a positive move, the speed limit on the road has been dropped to 50km/h.

The new connection links to the Djerring Trail along the Dandenong Line and will be valuable for those riding to the Monash University campus at Caulfield.

In addition, with opening of Melbourne Metro Tunnel, Caulfield Station will become a busy hub for rapid train connections to the city. 

With the removal of the final two level crossings at Neerim and Glen Huntly Roads, Glen Eira is now level crossing free. 

LXRP has also built seven new stations and delivered new open space and other walking and cycling paths in the area.

Glen Eira Mayor Cr Simone Zmood says: "Safe cycling routes are transformative. They're not just about getting from point A to point B they’re about reimagining how we move, how we interact with our environment, and how we care for our community’s collective wellbeing.”

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