The empty outbound service lanes on Footscray Road that riders have been sneaking on to will open to motor traffic this week.
From Thursday 13 November, trucks and cars will be flooding back onto these busy port links as the rebuilt Footscray Road moves towards fully opening after years of construction.
As part of the West Gate Tunnel Project, Footscray Road has been optimised to service the Port of Melbourne with upgraded connections via Footscray Road and new ramps at MacKenzie Road and Appleton Dock Road, providing direct freeway access.
The outbound service lanes on Footscray Road between Appleton Dock Road and Dock Link Road will reopen on 13 November 2025, including the loop connecting city-bound and outbound service lanes.
Two signalised crossings along existing walking and cycling path are expected to open once the service road loop is operational.
Riders have been utilising these crossings without hinderance for many months but will now have to watch for signal changes, and stop on red.
Soon, two bus stops will be reinstated on each side of Footscray Road (city-bound and outbound service lanes), for a total of four stops.
Previously, bus stops were located on the main carriageway before the West Gate Tunnel Project, which required through traffic to slow down or change lanes for stopping buses. Additionally, city-bound passengers had to cross the service lanes to access the stops.
The presence of the bus stops may increase the presence of pedestrians on the shared path along the port fence, and note that there is a pedestrian crossing connecting to the path from Market Gate 1 on the north side of the road that pedestrians and riders can be expected to use.
The elevated Veloway, which is to open before the end of the year, will draw many riders away from the ground level path, but it will remain an option for riders.
