The Walmer Street Bridge is finally open - and all new (... except for the middle!)

[@robzyb]

Thanks for the heads up, I'm looking forward to checking it out for myself.

[@DropTableAdventures]

It's a pretty useful link across the river, shame the reconstruction took so long...

[@jasonschubert6828]

Forgot to say, great video! I was wanting to send someone an email showing what had been done here, and there was almost no info online. Your video fit the bill perfectly 😃

[@DropTableAdventures]

Thanks for that - I was suffering much the same issue and figured since it's not far off I should just throw the GoPro on, jump on my bike, and head out there for a look!

[@TerrisLeonis]

Merry Christmas!

[@DropTableAdventures]

You too!

[@jasonschubert6828]

As a test analyst by trade, I also wonder who checks whether things actually work. Particularly the bubble tap at the top of the north side hill, which after being locked away from the public for almost the whole 16 months, no longer has enough pressure to clear the totally unnecessary cage around the nozzle. Apparently checking cyclist speeds is more important than having water available in a hot Melbourne summer! 😂

[@DropTableAdventures]

Someone tests these things first? Also, ironic about the tap - the reason the centre section of the bridge is heritage listed is due to its "importance in understanding water supply systems". I feel like the radar signs exist so that when (not if) there is an accident on the narrow section with the uneven rotting heritage listed planks, the council and government can attempt to dodge liability by going "well we took measures to slow people down, it's not our fault".

[@jasonschubert6828]

​@@DropTableAdventures I am pretty sure the stated reason and the _actual_ reason for heritage listing are 2 very different things. We all know Dan wasn't a fan of cyclists. I haven't measure, but I was disappointed to see the design for the Kew side ramp was not even wide enough for the Victorian Standard (1.6m per lane, design was for 2.6m total) and that both ends are now designed in a way that would make the bridge impossible to widen without major works on both the entry points.

[@DropTableAdventures]

​@@jasonschubert6828 Yeah, although it's a lot wider than what we had before (which I don't think was even 1.6m in total!) it's definitely still not wide enough to comply with Australian Standards for the level of traffic it gets. Definitely agree the reasoning around heritage listing was bizarre and surely the significance of that one bit of pipe can't have been the real reason! WRT the premiers office - they seemed all too happy to put out a press release about the removal of the Gipps St Steps, taking credit there - but maybe that was less controversial though... www.premier.vic.gov.au/ramping-iconic-yarra-bike-trail

[@jasonschubert6828]

Please, please, please don't criticise "duplication" of paths with steps, they are _much_ better and more direct for (most) walkers _and_ mean fewer people will be walking through all those tight switchbacks. I was very disappointed when I walked there and the stairs down to the Main Yarra Trail were gone, but looking again since, it appears they are going to be replaced with new ones that have not been finished yet.

[@DropTableAdventures]

That's a very good point - they are definitely better for those walking down there as it'd be a long walk down the switchbacks. Bet there'll be a desire path through the garden bed before long. I may have worded it badly in the voiceover - what I actually found strange about that was that they had ten stairs down to the top of the switchback ramp but then not stairs from there down to the Main Yarra Trail. It's not that duplication is bad - it's that they've only duplicated the very first bit.

[@jasonschubert6828]

@@DropTableAdventures it looks like they are putting a full set of stairs down to main trail on the right (coming from Vic Gardens) that will be similar, but hopefully much wider, than the original stairs. Walking from the west, those few little stairs are much better than the strange triangle you would have to traverse otherwise. I am rapt the triangle is there though, because it makes riding from the switchback _and_ from Walmer Street onto the bridge easy, pretty important considering the amount of cycle traffic here. The original design had a switchback between the "plaza" and the bridge, which would have been a nightmare, and a downgrade from what had existed before!

[@DropTableAdventures]

Oh yeah, I remember that original design. They planned to fix the problem of the switchback being too tight for some to safely ride around - by not letting you do it! Many complained to the council, who initially approved it - then changed their mind following public backlash. Glad we did not end up with that one. Will certainly be good when the other set of stairs opens so there's a direct set of stairs down, and a ramp for the bikes. I don't think I'd ever used the old stairs... I've only really gone through there by bike, but I know that's not everyone!