Walmer Street Bridge Advocacy - City of Boroondara · The Walmer Street bridge provides a strategic cycling link into the Melbourne central business district and also provides a vital

Council Agenda 25/06/18

City of Boroondara 219

7.5 Walmer Street Bridge Advocacy

Abstract

Since early 2013 Council officers have been actively monitoring and responding to safety, access and maintenance concerns on the Walmer Street bridge. The Walmer Street bridge comprises three components: the land bridge in the City of Boroondara, the river bridge across the Yarra River and the land bridge in the City of Yarra.

The Walmer Street bridge provides a strategic cycling link into the Melbourne central business district and also provides a vital strategic link for the communities of Kew, Richmond and Abbotsford. It provides a connection across the Yarra River and enables good bike riding and easy walking access to the Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre, Victoria Street strip shopping centre and public transport with tram route 109 along Victoria Street.

As a cycling route, the Walmer Street bridge is identified on the Principal Bicycle Network (PBN) and as a Bicycle Priority Route (BPR) and forms part of a Strategic Cycling Corridor (SCC).

Pedestrian and cyclist numbers have doubled over the last seven years and the intense development of the Victoria Street East precinct, which is only partly complete, will add several thousand new residents to the immediate vicinity of the bridge, who will use the bridge to access the parklands in Boroondara. The Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre has generated further bridge traffic from Kew residents seeking to access the shops and the Victoria Street tram route.

The northern land bridge section in Boroondara is not disability compliant, is excessively steep and narrow. These issues have been highlighted in an independent Road Safety Audit. In addition to the safety concerns created by the geometry and width issues, the land bridge is showing signs of structural failure. Since 2013, sections of the land bridge have been propped with temporary supports and scaffolding. Without urgent attention and reconstruction, the condition of the Walmer Street land bridge is expected to continue to deteriorate.

In 2016, Council officers developed detail designs for the replacement of the existing land bridge on the northern approach to bridge. Community consultation was undertaken and all approvals are in place.

The bridge has been identified as strategically important and is recognised on the Principal Bicycle Network and as a Bicycle Priority Route. As a piece of regional infrastructure, the Victorian Government would be responsible for funding a new bridge. Despite advocating over the years, the Victorian Government has not made a commitment to fund the bridge.

A new land bridge in the City of Yarra south of the existing main river bridge will be constructured as part of the proposed development at 607-627 Victoria Street, Abbostford. Demolition and excavation works have commenced.

While both new land bridges to the bridge are designed for increased user numbers, the river bridge does not meet standards and also requires replacement to meet today’s needs and that of the foreseeable future.



A new wider bridge involving the land bridges in both the Cities of Boroondara and Yarra and the river bridge to accommodate current and future local and regional community needs is therefore urgently needed and is the preferred option. A preliminary estimate of $7 million has been prepared for a new 5m wide bridge that also provides the flexibility to separate pedestrians and cyclists. This bridge would be an appropriate outcome given the importance of this connection for cycling and pedestrian traffic. The Walmer Street Bridge Coalition (WSBC) comprises the Collingwood and Abbotsford Residents Association, the Yarra and Boroondara Bicycle User Groups and the Walmer Street Action Group. The group has been working with Yarra and Boroondara Councils on the urgently needed replacement of the Walmer Street Bridge. A community rally is planned for 10am on Saturday 4 August 2018 at Williams Reserve near the corner of Victoria Street and Burnley Street to highlight the need for a new bridge. This report seeks a Council decision to advocate to the Victorian Government for it to fund a new wider bridge involving the land bridge in the City of Boroondara, the river bridge across the Yarra and the land bridge in the City of Yarra. Officers' recommendation That Council resolve to: 1. Support the need for a new wider bridge involving the land bridges in both the

Cities of Boroondara and Yarra and the river bridge to accommodate current and future local and regional community needs.

2. Note the action being taken by the Walmer Street Bridge Coalition in

advocating for a new wider bridge involving the land bridges in both the Cities of Boroondara and Yarra and the river bridge.

3. Write to the Victorian Government and opposition parties seeking a commitment from them to fund a new bridge comprising the land bridges in both the Cities of Boroondara and Yarra and the river bridge, in the lead up to the 2018 Victorian Government election.



Responsible director: Bruce DobsonEnvironment & Infrastructure

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1. Purpose

This report seeks a Council decision to advocate to the Victorian Government for it to fund a new wider Walmer Street bridge comprising both the land bridges in the Cities of Boroondara and Yarra and the river bridge.

2. Policy implications and relevance to community plan and council plan

Balanced and integrated transport solutions that provide choice and equity align with the Boroondara Community Plan 2017-27 and the revised Council Plan 2017-27 (due to be considered by Council in June 2018) key theme of ‘Getting Around Boroondara’.

The Walmer Street Bridge project supports the Boroondara Community Plan 2017-27 and the revised Council Plan 2017-21, through:

Strategy 5.1 - Improve road safety for pedestrians, drivers and cyclists through infrastructure improvements, education and traffic management initiatives.

Strategy 5.2 - Address road congestion through an integrated approach

that better manages traffic and promotes public transport, walking and cycling initiatives.

Strategy 5.4 - Promote and increase active and environmentally

sustainable travel options, including cycling and walking and access to public transport.

Strategy 5.7 - Plan and advocate for better access and transport strategies

to assist people with limited mobility, including those with disabilities and older adults, to travel in Boroondara to increase their participation in community life.

3. Background

The Walmer Street river bridge was constructed in 1892 primarily as a footbridge to connect the suburbs of Kew and Richmond, allowing access to Studley Park and surrounds.

Apart from some general repairs over the years, the bridge remains the same structure more than 100 years later.

Pedestrian and cyclist numbers have doubled over the last seven years and the intense development of the Victoria Street East precinct, which is only partly complete, will add several thousand new residents to the immediate vicinity of the bridge, who will use the bridge to access the parklands in Boroondara. The Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre has generated further bridge traffic from Kew residents seeking to access the shops and the Victoria Street tram route.



In early 2013, the land bridge in the City of Boroondara began to show signs of failure and Council officers arranged for temporary propping of the failed beams. Since that time officers have been actively monitoring and assessing its condition to ensure the bridge is safe for use. This has involved independent structural assessments of the bridge which have led to the temporary supports for the failed sections of the bridge.

A feasibility study for the replacement of the City of Boroondaa land bridge was completed in 2014 and detailed designs developed in 2016. Consultation was undertaken and a planning permit is in place.

Construction on the development at 607-627 Victoria Street, Abbotsford has commenced. The proposed development within the City of Yarra, approved by the Minister for Planning in January 2017, involves the construction of a new land bridge to the existing river bridge.

While both new land bridges to the bridge are designed for increased user numbers, the river bridge does not meet standards and also requires replacement to meet today’s needs and that of the foreseeable future.

A new wider bridge involving the land bridges in both the Cities of Boroondara and Yarra and the river bridge to accommodate current and future local and regional community needs is therefore urgently needed and is the preferred option.

The wider bridge would be 5m in width and would also include the flexibility to separate pedestrians and cyclists.

3.1 Strategic importance

The Walmer Street Bridge provides a vital strategic link to the communities of Kew, Richmond and Abbotsford. As with many bridges, it provides a key connection across the Yarra River.

For the Kew residents that live in the vicinity of Walmer Street, the bridge provides walking and cycling access to Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre, the strip shopping on Victoria Street, Richmond, and access to public transport with tram route 109 along Victoria Street.

For residents of Richmond and Abbotsford, the Walmer Street Bridge provides access to Yarra Bend Park, one of the largest areas of parkland in inner Melbourne. This area of Richmond and Abbotsford is also undergoing significant residential development, dramatically increasing the population density in this area.

As a cycling route, the Victorian Government has recognised the Walmer Street Bridge as a significant route and it is identified in a number of cycling plans. The bridge is identified on the Principal Bicycle Network (PBN), a Bicycle Priority Route (BPR) and forms part of the Strategic Cycling Corridor (SCC) network.

3.2 Existing bridge

The Walmer Street Bridge comprises three components: the land bridge (northern approach) in the City of Boroondara; the main (river) bridge across



the Yarra River and the land bridge (southern approach) in the City of Yarra as shown in Attachment 1.

The north approach to the Walmer Street bridge is a four span timber bridge, owned and maintained by the City of Boroondara. The superstructure consists of two glued laminated (glulam) timber stringers with a timber deck and railings. The spans are between 15.5-16.7 m long. A bitumen coating covers the timber deck. The width of the bridge deck is about 1.73 m between the steel handrails.

The main (river) bridge is a single span steel overhead truss structure with a timber deck. The width of the bridge deck is about 2.45 m between the steel handrails. Both the Cities of Boroondara and Yarra maintain the river bridge.

The south approach to the Walmer Street bridge is a steel truss bridge with timber decking over a single span of about 23.4 m. The width of the bridge deck is about 2.4m between the steel handrails. Yarra Council is responsible for maintaining the south approach of the bridge.

4. Outline of key issues/options

4.1 Usage

Pedestrian and cyclist use continues to increase with recent data demonstrating high use of the bridge, on weekdays and weekends, by pedestrians and cyclists. Daily weekday numbers are in excess of 2200 with over 1300 cyclists and almost 900 pedestrians.

Almost 400 cyclists alone use the bridge during the morning peak hour. The data shows the attractiveness of the bridge as a key access route for commuter cyclists with high use during morning and afternoon peak periods.

On weekends, there is also high usage with daily figures approaching 2400 with an almost equal split of pedestrians and cyclists.

4.2 Safety issues

There are a number of issues associated with the existing northern land bridge and the path. Notably, the path is excessively steep, narrow and is not disability compliant.

The clear width of 1.73 m between handrails is significantly less than the 3.6m minimum recommended in standards and there is no setback clearance for the handrails.

An independent Road Safety Audit has confirmed these issues and the non compliance with standards.

Incidents have occurred in the past involving pedestrians and cyclists. The narrow path width and its steepness have been contributing factors.

4.3 Land bridge condition

The City of Boroondara land bridge is in overall poor condition and is showing signs of structural failure.



Since 2014, propping of the failing timber beams and regular structural assessments have been undertaken. In December 2017 further work was undertaken to support the land bridge.

Without urgent attention and reconstruction, the condition of the Walmer Street land bridge is expected to continue to deteriorate.

Photographs of the existing land bridge are included in Attachment 2.

4.4 Proposed developments

Construction on the development at 607-627 Victoria Street, Abbostford has commenced. The proposed development, approved by the Minister for Planning in January 2017, involves a new access to the existing Walmer Street bridge.

The proposed development includes 539 dwellings.

The proposed development at 647-649 Victoria Street, Abbostford has also been approved which will include an additional 113 dwellings.

4.5 Cost estimate

A preliminary cost estimate for a new 5 metre wide bridge to replace both the land bridges in the Cities of Boroondara and Yarra and the river bridge is in the order of $7 million.

The new bridge at 5m in width, would provide the flexibility to include separate paths for pedestrians and cyclists.

5. Consultation/communication

Council officers have previously completed consultation and all approvals are in place for the replacement of the land bridge in the City of Boroondara. Since 2014, Council has been actively advocating for funding to replace the land bridge, however the Victorian Government has not yet allocated funding for this project.

With the developments commencing on the south side of the Yarra, Ward Councillors and Council officers from both Councils have been involved with the Walmer Street Bridge Coalition (WSBC) to respond to design issues with the plaza and land bridge on the south side of the Yarra to achieve better community outcomes. The WSBC comprises representatives from the Collingwood and Abbotsford Residents Association, the Yarra and Boroondara Bicycle User Groups and the Walmer Street Action Group.

As the developer will be replacing the land bridge in the City of Yarra and noting the condition of the land bridge in the City of Boroondara, the scope of the group has broadened to pursue a new bridge which would encompass both the Council land bridges and the river bridge that would meet both current and future use needs. This view acknowledges that the river bridge also does not meet standards and requires replacement to meet today’s needs and that of the foreseeable future.



The new bridge would be significantly wider at 5m than what was envisioned by the developer for their replacement of the City of Yarra land bridge and what was planned by Council officers for replacement of the northern City of Boroondara land bridge. At 5m in width, the flexibility for separate paths for pedestrians and cyclists would also be open.

The upcoming Victorian Government election provides an opportunity to advocate for funding through a unified approach involving the Cities of Boroondara and Yarra and the community.

The WSBC has organised a community rally for 10am on Saturday 4 August 2018 at Williams Reserve near the corner of Victoria Street and Burnley Street to highlight the need for a new bridge.

6. Financial and resource implications

The preliminary estimate for a new 5m wide bridge encompassing both the land bridges and the river bridge is $7 million.

Given its strategic importance, the intention is that the bridge be fully funded by the Victorian Government.

Advocacy will esentially involve officer time and can be accommodated within existing resources.

7. Governance issues

Under Section 80C of the Local Government Act 1989, no officer involved in the preparation of this report has any direct or indirect interest in the subject matter of the report.

Consistent with the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006, it is considered that no human rights are impacted or infringed as a consequence of the recommendation of this report.

8. Social and environmental issues

When considered in a broad context, this proposal will permit direct and safe access for cyclists and pedestrians using the Walmer Street bridge. A new bridge to accommodate current and future local and regional community needs will have positive social and environmental impacts.

Manager: Jim Hondrakis, Traffic &Transport

Report officer: Jonathan Florent, Strategic Transport Engineer

Northern Approach - City of Boroondara Land Bridge

Main Bridge - River Bridge - Jointly Maintained by the Cities of Boroondara and Yarra

Southern Approach - City of Yarra Land Bridge


City of Boroondara Attachment 7.5.1 226

Walmer Street Land Bridge - City of Boroondara



Walmer Street Land Bridge - City of Boroondara

Walmer Street Land Bridge - City of Boroondara - Temporary Supports



Documents

Walmer Street Bridge Advocacy - City of Boroondara · The Walmer Street bridge provides a strategic cycling link into the Melbourne central business district and also provides a vital