Bike riders through Newport, Williamstown and Altona now have a new perspective on the south-west coastal suburbs with the opening of the new bike and pedestrian bridge at Champion Road.
The final span of the structure was craned into place while the rail line underneath was closed for two weeks for the construction of a new rail bridge just up the line at Maddox Road.
The twin projects were part of the two level crossing removals on the Werribee Line.
At Champion Road, the new active transport bridge is now the only way of crossing the multiple rail tracks, as nearby oil and gas pipelines and connections to railway stabling yards precluded road or rail bridges.
The new structure is an impressive asset to the area and should induce more people to explore life on a bike.
The ramps to the bridging span are wide and smooth, and contain seating in case the very mild incline is too steep for some travellers.
As the bridge is over an active rail line, there had to be protection for the trains below, in this case very attractively provided by a stainless steel netting that does not obstruct the view from the top.
As part of the project a new section of 400 metres of shared path along Railway Parade will fill a gap and enable trips off road all the way from Altona North to the station at Newport.
There are still some finishing touches, cleaning up the site and landscaping to be done.
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