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North-West cycleway opportunity
The Tasmanian Greens today said that three north-west railway bridges listed for demolition could potentially be put to new use, as part of a world-class scenic coastal cycleway connecting Devonport and Smithton.
Greens Member for Braddon Paul O’Halloran MP said that bridges across the Blythe, Forth and Leven Rivers are due to be replaced by the Department of Infrastructure, with plans to demolish the old bridges at a cost of close to half a million dollars each.
Mr O’Halloran called on the Minister for Infrastructure David O’Byrne MP to investigate the potential for turning the bridges into bicycle and foot crossings.
“Rather than spending more than a million dollars on removing these bridges, why not look at using some of that money to convert them into bicycle and pedestrian crossings?” Mr O’Halloran said.
“Finding suitable river crossings has been of the main sticking points in the plan for a north-west cycleway, so this could be a golden opportunity to solve some significant logistical and engineering challenges.”
“Recent cycleways developed in the region have proven enormously popular, and what we now need to start thinking about is how to connect up these shorter bike paths, to create a world-class cycling attraction.”
“The north west is an ideal place to invest in such a vision, with our idyllic and populated coastlines and ample room to accommodate cycleways.”
“As the number of Tasmanians who ride bikes every week continues to climb towards 100,000, we need to make it easier, safer and more appealing for people to use cycling as a primary form of transport.”
Mr O’Halloran said that the creation of a north-west cycleway connecting Devonport and Smithton has been a long-standing Greens policy initiative, which would bring many benefits to the region.
“With pressure on health budgets, road congestion, road infrastructure and fuel prices, it seems a logical and sensible decision to start investing more readily in cycleways.”
“Cycling is clean, healthy, cheap and efficient, but without an innovative approach to encouraging more cyclists we risk missing this golden opportunity.”
Earlier on Tasmanian Times: On Your Bike!