City in Motion: Construction Updates for Cyclists
10 April 2025
Work is progressing on the building site, and while there has been less change from a bike rider’s perspective, there has been some tidying up of the signage and separation between bikes and motor vehicles. I spotted a couple of challenges, one big improvement and a couple of changes as a part of the construction work.
Challenges
Where Commonwealth Avenue southbound merges with eastbound traffic off Parkes Way, bike riders must give way to traffic merging from the left. There is hardly any opportunity to look backwards, left and downwards for approaching traffic before you each the merging point, so you really need to stop and check for a gap in the traffic with very little space or wobble-room. [ photo wobble-room]
If you cross Northbourne Avenue eastbound at London Circuit, you will need to cross London circuit to the corner of the Sydney building before continuing on the footpath (on your bike). There is a regular flow of bikes and pedestrians going both ways, however the sharp corner is completely obscured to people approaching the corner in the opposite direction. I watched for 5 minutes and I saw a couple of ‘near bumps’ by bikes and/or pedestrians meeting at the corner with very little forewarning. We’ll let the building team know about The and ask them to make the fencing mesh a bit more ‘see-through’ and see what happens.
Improvements
As Commonwealth Avenue leaves the bridge northbound, after about 50 metres the left hand becomes a bike-only path, there is a road turning left (Albert Street) to car parking and soon after there there is a pedestrian crossing. There were a few bollards in the road, however someone has got serious and installed temporary kerbs with ‘ice-lolly sticks’ which makes it much more obvious who is going where.
Changes
Southbound traffic on Commonwealth Avenue approaching the bridge will see the left lane has been blocked off between the slip road from westbound Parkes Avenue and the entrance to Albert Street. Unfortunately, there is no signage to say why the lane has been blocked off, and where bikes should go. I’m working on the basis that bikes should use the left lane, because there’s nothing to say that you shouldn’t! I feel very safe behind the concrete jersey barriers, however any overtaking car wanting to turn left into Albert Street East at the end of the lane closure is unlikely to see you because they will be focused on the turn in front of them. I see this as a concern, and you should look right as you emerge from the far end of the barriers. You will be looking for cars overtaking you and turning left: they may well have not seen you.
A smaller change is where a footpath at the north west corner of Vernon Circle goes past the magistrates to the front of the courthouses, that made a nice short cut, has been blocked off. The footpath was just beside where large ‘40’ signs had been painted onto the road. You no longer have this short cut and you will have to turn left in front of the Melbourne Building instead to get to the courthouses and police station.
Alternatives
As the construction work becomes busier, congestion and delays will affect commuting car drivers more. After a while the congestion won’t get any worse as some drivers choose to use alternative forms of transport instead, like public transport or bike riding.
At the moment there aren’t significant delays to commuting bike riders, with sufficient off-road routes to most areas of the City and the Parliamentary Triangle. It’s easy to cross the Commonwealth Avenue bridge using the foot and bike paths on both sides, which take you to pedestrian bridges over Parkes Way, away from the traffic.
It’s usually quicker and easier, and it will save you the cost of car parking fees too!
Can you help? Road and route closures and traffic congestion will change often. If you see anything that you think should be mentioned here, please call or email Pedal Power (communications@pedalpower.org.au) and help us to keep this regular bulletin up to date. Thank you!
