(14/3/2019) Freo a winner in latest round of WA Bike Network grants

The City of Fremantle has been awarded a $175,000 grant in the latest round of the state government’s WA Bike Network grants scheme.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti made the announcement during a visit to Fremantle this morning to celebrate the start of Bike Week 2019.

The grant funding will go towards safety improvements at the busy intersection of Queen Victoria Street, Parry Street and Adelaide Street.

Fremantle Deputy Mayor Ingrid Waltham said the funding would help to make Fremantle a more bike-friendly city.

“Our Integrated Transport Strategy promotes Fremantle as a pedestrian and bike friendly city, with a low-speed city centre that’s shared by pedestrians, cyclists and motorists,” Deputy Mayor Waltham said.

“The intersection of Queen Victoria, Parry and Adelaide Streets is an important entry point into Fremantle and the low-speed shared zone, but the current layout of the intersection is confusing for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists.

“The cycle lanes on the approaches stop before they reach the intersection, which means at a critical point there are no line markings or priority for cyclists.

“The Bike Network grant will help the City improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians while also creating a wonderful entry statement for Fremantle.”

The City was previously awarded state government funding to upgrade cycling infrastructure at the Queen Victoria Street intersection but the project was deferred in order to develop a more comprehensive design to create a welcoming, safe and legible entry into the city centre.

Fremantle Council considered a draft urban design concept for the upgrade last month.

Further development of the design and community consultation will take place over the coming months, with the project scheduled for construction the 2020/21 financial year subject to budget allocation.  

The Queen Victoria Street intersection upgrade is part of a broader plan to improve connectivity between East and North Fremantle and the city centre, which includes a proposal to convert the old Fremantle Traffic Bridge into a pedestrian and cycle way.

In its recently released list of national infrastructure priorities Infrastructure Australia identified the replacement of the traffic bridge as a priority initiative to be delivered in the near term.