Walking and cycling

As part of the Chandler Highway Upgrade, we’ve made it easier for you to walk and cycle in the area. You can now enjoy better connections, safer crossings and more direct routes.

To make it easier for you to walk and cycle around your local area, we’ve:

  • added better connections to existing trails, such as the Anniversary, Darebin and Main Yarra trails
  • completed a ramp from the Main Yarra Trail to Yarra Boulevard, to replace 70 steps
  • built a new underpass that links the Main Yarra Trail from east to west on the south side of the Yarra River
  • added a new set of stairs on the north side of the Yarra River to connect the north west side of the Chandler Highway bridge to the north east side of Chandler Highway and the Yarra River
  • added a new northbound on-road bike lane over the new bridge to Heidelberg Road
  • added new traffic lights at the Yarra Boulevard and Chandler Highway intersection.

Heritage bridge

The Chandler Highway Upgrade has restored the original 128-year-old heritage bridge and converted the bridge into a walking and cycling path.

The upgraded bridge links the Anniversary and Main Yarra trails, includes seating and rest areas and features interpretive signage with historic imagery, telling the story and evolution of the bridge.

Heritage listing

In 2016 we applied for the bridge to be State Heritage listed to formally recognise its structural significance and importance to the community. On 30 June 2016, the bridge was added to the Victorian Heritage Register.

Respecting the past

To preserve the rich history and culture of the heritage bridge, we’ve:

  • installed rail tracks into the new heritage bridge, highlighting its original use as part of part of the Outer Circle Railway. Text from Dacre Smyth’s 1979 poem about the bridge and the words from the original petition to build the Outer Circle Railway in the 1880s is scribed into the rail tracks
  • added signage along the length of the bridge tracing the bridge’s history in chronological order
  • installed glass panels under seating areas, to allow you to look at the key structural features on the underside of the bridge.

We have also removed graffiti and lead paint from the lattice truss structure and have painted the wrought iron trusses to their original colour, and repaired any damage to the stonework and brickwork.