Calder Freeway bridge, site of cycling death, gets new bike path
A LOBBY group of cyclists are celebrating after a new bike path was finally laid on a hazardous Calder Freeway bridge where a rider was killed three years ago.
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A LOBBY group of cyclists are celebrating after a new bike path was finally laid on a dangerous Calder Freeway bridge where a man was killed three years ago.
Back in 2015 keen cyclist Hector Bugeja had vowed never to ride over the bridge at Vineyard Rd Sunbury, seeing constant danger in frequent heavy vehicles and sudden merges on to the freeway from the bridge.
Just a day later, on October 8, 2015, another cyclist who was a month into his retirement was struck and died on the stretch.
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Mr Bugeja and others formed the Sunbury Bicycle Users Group which pushed for a complete connection from where existing separated pathway finished at Moore Rd Sunbury, over the Calder to Diggers Rest.
A $1.1 million project has now delivered another kilometre of safe bike path connecting the two growth communities.
“For us as advocates, we felt it was common sense, but we just had to keep on pushing and explaining ourselves and getting people to listen,” a relieved Mr Nugeja told the Leader.
“It was too important to give up on — if we want better community wellbeing, you need these types of bike facilities where it’s safe.”
The project opens up the prospect of a loop stretching from Emu Bottom and Racecourse Rd up Elizabeth Drive and on to Vineyard Rd and back again, he said.
“Suddenly there is this viable large loop and I hope it gets more people walking and cycling,” Mr Bugeja said.
The project had the backing of the State Government and both Hume and Melton councils.
Sunbury state Labor MP Josh Bull said the project was needed.
“Locals have told me for years how unsafe they felt walking and cycling on the freeway overpass and this path now provides an important safe connection between our two growing communities,” Mr Bull said.
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