The West Australian government hopes the days of unsavoury characters gathering under bridges are dashed after opening the state’s newest mountain bike skills and BMX pump track under the Tonkin Highway’s Mooro-Beeloo Bridge in Bayswater.
The $1 million facility was built as part of the $400 million Tonkin Gap project, which is nearing completion.
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti and Maylands MP Lisa Baker at the new Tonkin Highway bike pump track.Credit: Hamish Hastie
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the facility had already garnered plenty of attention from the state’s BMX and mountain bike community.
“There’s been a lot of speculation already on social media about when’s it going to open because there’s been a lot of excitement,” she said.
“This is all part of trying to make our spaces more usable, but also maximising the benefit of the infrastructure that we’re delivering.”
Saffioti said the underbridge facility was the first in a range of similar facilities that will be built under the elevated rail Armadale rail line.
“What you see here is very much what we want to roll out and the elevated rail through Victoria Park Cannington and through Armadale as we elevate rail,” she said.
The track has the approval of some of WA’s most talented young riders.
Current world, Oceania, national and state BMX racing champion Amelie Reid, 12, said she loved the “flowy” pump track.
“It’s a very great opportunity to get people into riding bikes, mountain biking, everything,” she said.
State BMX champion Cooper Dunlop, 14, said the track was “sick”.
“The jumps are mint they’ve got a cool pump track and the jumps are pretty flowy and fun to get some fat whips on,” he said.
The track will be officially opened at a community event on April 14.
Read more
WA parents contribute less in school fees as cost of living bites
Armadale leads the charge as Perth property prices hit another high in February
Alannah’s back: MacTiernan registers as lobbyist but isn’t ‘open for business’
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.