Hobsons Bay council said it was working to mitigate safety risks along the Bay Trail bike path in Altona after criticism that a temporary detour was dangerous.
The section of the trail between Altona and Racecourse roads has been closed for six months while a new bridge is built over Kororoit Creek, replacing the previous crossing which was dilapidated and prone to flooding.
A detour along Millers and Kororoit Creek roads has put in its place, but western suburbs cycling safety advocacy group, Bike West, has claimed the amount of traffic, especially trucks, on the temporary route, as well as the double lane roundabout where the two meet in Altona North, put cyclists at risk.
A council spokesperson insisted the route was safe, but said improvements would be considered.
“Council has engaged a road safety auditor to validate use of this route and is also undertaking further risk assessment work to identify if any further temporary measures need to be implemented to mitigate any safety concerns,” the spokesperson said.
Bike West vic president Pierra Vairo called the detour “manifestly inadequate” and said numerous cyclists had been involved in accidents along the route in the past decade.
“Our position is that a floating bridge could’ve been used at Kororoit Creek,” said Mr Vairo of Bike West’s preferred alternative.
“The construction site is still passable. There’s a little temporary bridge for the workers to cross the creek and our position is that it wouldn’t have been very difficult to put a little temporary bridge for walkers and pedestrians to cross as well.”
The council spokesperson said this option was looked at but wasn’t feasible.
“Utilisation of the existing bridge structure or a temporary pontoon was not deemed safe due to the level of flooding in the area and instability during construction work,” the spokesperson said.
“When taking this into consideration utilisation of the designated cycling route along Millers Road and Kororoit Creek Road as a detour was deemed the most appropriate solution.”
Mr Vairo said he feared the Bay Trail detour could have a similar outcome to a detour on Dynon Road in Kensington where a cyclist was left a paraplegic after being hit by truck in May this year.
“We know that dangerous detours kill and destroy lives,” he said.
