WALKERS and cyclists facing traffic as they move from one side of the O'Keefe Rail Trail could see things get a lot easier under a new draft strategy outlining 12 "high-traffic-stress" crossings in greater Bendigo.
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They include the O'Keefe Rail Trail as it crosses the increasingly busy McIvor Highway.
The crossing was a "major barrier" stopping many walkers, cyclists and horse riders from using the O'Keefe, Junortoun Community Action Group secretary Kevin de Vries said.
"It's going to cost a bit of money but in the long run, if you want to use O'Keefe Rail Trail not just as a tourist route but as a commuter route to get kids to school, then it's really important to have an underpass there," Mr de Vries said.
About 14,000 now vehicles use the stretch of the McIvor from Strathdale out to Junortoun, according to VicRoads.
Twelve roads have been identified in the City of Greater Bendigo's draft walking and cycling strategy for further review as the council considers ways to triage crossings.
Story continues below document.
The system would involve eliminating interaction by separating traffic completely, including by using underpasses. Other crossings would be controlled using traffic lights or through raised "wombat" crossings that prioritised people crossing roads.
The crossings were identified through community engagement, the draft report stated.
They included:
- Ironbark Gully Trail, Nolan Street, North Bendigo
- Ironbark Gully Trail, Holmes Road, North Bendigo
- Mundy Street, Myers Street, Bendigo
- Mundy Street, Sternberg Street, Bendigo
- Neale Street, Townsend Street, Kennington/Flora Hill
- Long Gully Trail at Bendigo Stadium, Marong Road, Ironbark
- Back Creek Trail, Houston Street, Flora Hill
- Bendigo Creek, Lockwood Road, Kangaroo Flat
- Bullock Creek Trail, Calder Highway, Marong
- Rail line, near Thistle Street, Golden Square
- Emu Creek, Strathfieldsaye Road, Strathfieldsaye
The document gave further weight to the JCAG's push for an underpass as VicRoads consulted with the community about the increasingly busy McIvor Road, Mr de Vries said.
"Ultimately it's the state government that needs to fund that," he said.
If ratified, the wide-ranging draft plan would commit the council to advocating for work at the 12 road crossings as well as any other crossings identified.
It would also prioritise dealing with the "significant gaps" between the 130km of greater Bendigo trails which made them uncomfortable and inconvenient to reach.
The strategy included a proposed route for a circular 22km "regional city trail" incorporating the Bendigo Trail, Long Gully and Ironbark trails, Spring Gully and Back Creek trails, Kennington Reservoir trails and paths to La Trobe University.
The new route would need 6m of new trails, footpaths, road underpasses, crossings or protected cycleways, including a plan to address challenges like crossing a rail line in Golden Square.
"Wherever dedicated cycle ways are developed an equivalent walking path should also be developed to a similar or better standard," the strategy stated.
The strategy will remain open for public consultation until Friday, 17 May.
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