Work to create a safer cycling route between central Geelong and the Barwon River will begin in August after Council appointed Enoch Civil Pty Ltd to carry out construction.

Stage One of the Building Better Bike Connections – Southern Corridor will run from central Geelong to the river along Gheringhap Carr and Moorabool streets.

It will form a critical link in Geelong’s cycling network giving cyclists improved connections between key destinations such as South Geelong Station the Barwon River Trail the Bellarine Rail Trail and the CBD.

Design of the Southern Corridor stage one was endorsed by Council in April 2019 after extensive consultation with the original plans modified in response to community feedback around factors including car parking and safety.

As part of the design parking spaces removed on Moorabool Street will be offset with the creation of extra spaces in surrounding streets.

The appointment of Enoch Civil Pty Ltd follows an open tender process and was awarded based on the tenderer’s experience expertise and value for money.

The Council voted to award the tender during Tuesday night’s meeting with an amendment directing the CEO to:

• issue a contract variation to construct a shared pedestrian bicycle path utilising the existing footpath on the west side of Moorabool Street between Fyans Street and Park Crescent; and
• review the performance of the shared path between Fyans Street and Park Crescent after the first 12 months and advise councillors of any recommendations for improvements.

Deputy Mayor Trent Sullivan who moved the amendment said it aimed to create a safer environment for bicycles passing the service station between Fyans Street and Park Crescent.

We’ve heard a lot of feedback about this particular section of the route where a high number of vehicles are driving into and out of the service station. Having carefully considered the design options councillors have voted to move the bi-directional path for this section off the road and onto the footpath.

This brings riders into a clearer line of sight for vehicles entering and exiting the service station. This option has been endorsed by the president of Bike Safe. Importantly we’ve asked for a review after 12 months to check how the route is performing.

Mayor Stephanie Asher said the Building Better Bike Connections project aimed to encourage more people to cycle by offering improved safety and increased access to train stations the CBD shopping precincts and other destinations.

If we have more people riding bikes we will have a healthier community a healthier environment and reduced congestion on our roads. This is not a particularly elegant solution but it is part of the bigger picture as Geelong grows. My focus from this point onwards is creating genuine access for residents outside the CBD via the shared trails plan so they also have sustainable transport options.

The Building Better Bike Connections – Southern and Western Corridors are both funded by the Victorian Government via an investment of $6.3 million from the TAC and will provide dedicated paths and routes across Geelong filling the ‘missing links’ in existing bicycle networks.

The City has already completed the project’s $1.6 million Western Corridor which connects central Geelong to Herne Hill via Geelong West.

Stage two of the Southern Corridor will connect the Barwon River to Waurn Ponds via Belmont and Grovedale.