Altona Road (Ford upgrade) project
Detour safety audit - We are aware of concerns from the community regarding the current cycle detour in place due to the closure of the Ford Bridge.
During this time, cyclists are being directed onto Kororoit Creek Road and Millers Road as part of the detour.
We acknowledge community’s concerns for this route and are committed to improving safety along the detour route. In response, we have engaged a road safety auditor to assess the current detour and we expect to receive the audit report soon.
Thank you for your patience and understanding. We will continue to keep the community informed as progress is made.
The ford crossing is located between Altona Road and Racecourse Road at the lower end of Kororoit Creek and is in an extremely poor condition. The existing crossing is built on box culvert units and the condition of the units including road pavement, has deteriorated beyond repair. The crossing is prone to flooding even in minor flood events. In the past there were numerous occasions where this crossing was closed due to severe flooding.
The new crossing will accommodate new vehicle carriage way and a shared user path with safety guard rails, as well as installation of a new electronic flood warning system.
The presence of large machinery raises significant safety concerns, making it unsafe to allow any vehicle or cyclist near the site. Alternately, the on-road bike lanes on Kororoit Creek Road and Millers Road are official bike paths listed on the VicRoads website. All cyclists may use these designated routes during the closure.
View project plans here:
Bird's eye plan view(PDF, 2MB)
Elevation plan view(PDF, 206KB)
Road and path closures
Altona Road/Racecourse Road will be closed in both directions from the flood gates for the duration of the works. Works are scheduled from mid November 2024 until June 2025 (weather dependent). Bicycle and pedestrian paths that cross through this area will also be closed.
View the cycling routes map.
Construction update December 2024
The project is progressing well and remains on track. The site mobilisation and road closures on Altona Road (ford upgrade project) began 18 November.
The road is currently closed and will stay closed for all traffic until the construction is complete in June 2025.
Flora and Fauna
The Altona Road upgrade will affect a limited area of native vegetation, which has been minimised as much as possible to facilitate the necessary work. A significant aspect of this project includes the construction of a fish ladder designed to enhance the migration of fish, aquatic life and bird species, both upstream and downstream, thereby supporting their feeding, breeding, and genetic diversity.