Friday 5th December 2025: ramp connection to Main Yarra Trail and Collins Bridge appears to be open!
Official opening event still to come.
November 2025: Parks Victoria: Gipps Street Elevated Path Community Update
“Project status: This project is nearly complete and we expect to open the new ramp and stairs before Christmas.
Works recently completed: In November we completed the streetscape works.
Final safety checks are occurring with consultants and contractors engaged to provide statutory certifications prior to opening to the public.
The Gipps Street elevated path project provides cyclists and pedestrians with improved access between the city and the Main Yarra Trail.”
October 2025 (2): Parks Victoria: Gipps Street Elevated Path Community Update
“Project status: Parks Victoria is on track to complete this project by December 2025.
Works recently completed: In October we completed the retaining wall and commenced streetscape works. The site sheds have been removed to provide access to do new paving. We continued planting works to stabilise and revegetate the embankment.
Next steps: Finishing works are underway including measures to reduce risk of erosion around the drainage pits. In November we will complete the construction of the ramp and stairs and do early works certification in readiness to open to the public.
Temporary bridge closures: To complete the works, we need to restrict access at Gipps Street and close Collins Bridge between 9am to 4pm on:
- Tuesday 28 October
- Wednesday 29 October
- Monday 17 November
- Wednesday 19 November
Detours will be in place during these dates. Find the map for the full route.”
October 2025 (1): Parks Victoria: Gipps Street Elevated Path Community Update
“Collins bridge temporary closures: We have nearly finished construction of the Gipps Street Ramp. The final steps include roadworks, footpaths, drainage and signage. For safety reasons, we need to temporarily close Collins Bridge between 9am and 4pm (open other times and dates subject to weather):
- Tuesday 28 October
- Wednesday 29 October
- Monday 17 November
- Wednesday 19 November
There will be no pedestrian or bicycle access across the bridge. See the map below for detour information. Detour signage will be placed at Gipps Street, Yarra Bend Park, Johnston Street and Walmer Street Bridge in advance of the closures.
Detour route:
Stay up to date: For more information on the project please visit the Parks Victoria website. You can also contact Parks Victoria on 13 1963 or email engage@parks.vic.gov.au.”
September 2025: Parks Victoria: Gipps Street Elevated Path Community Update
Project status: Parks Victoria is on track to complete this project by December 2025.
Works recently completed: In September we installed the final section of ramp. We completed the drains and rock walls and commenced construction of a retaining wall. We continued planting works to stabilise and revegetate the embankment.
Next steps: Finishing works are underway including caulking panel joins on the elevated platform, tensioning wire mesh on the balustrade and installing handrails. In October we will complete the construction of the retaining wall and commence streetscape works.
Access: or safety reasons, there is no pedestrian access via the stairs to Gipps Street.
To complete the works, we need to restrict access at Gipps Street and across Collins Bridge for up to 7 days. We are finalising these dates, and we will inform you of the exact details with as much notice as possible.
Keep up to date with project developments at: parks.vic.gov.au/projects/
August 2025: Parks Victoria: Gipps Street Elevated Path Community Update
Project status: Parks Victoria is on track to complete this project by December 2025.
Works recently completed: In August we installed two pile caps, three pillars and three panels along the elevated path. Only one final section of the ramp remains. We continued to install drains and rock walls.
Mains power was disconnected to Collins Bridge, and we installed solar lighting. We continued planting works to stabilise and revegetate the embankment.
July 2025: Parks Victoria: Gipps Street Elevated Path Community Update
‘Parks Victoria is on track to complete this project by December 2025‘ Update includes access stairs with gate and handrail to be done, planting on north side and pits, pipes in?ground, drainage upgrades, installation of rock walls and works to backfill and compact topsoil on the bank next to The Salvation Army and piling and foundations for the remaining section of ramp. A retaining wall needs to be installed at the end of Gipps Street and then structural supports can be installed.
June 2025: Parks Victoria: Gipps Street Elevated Path Community Update
As you can see above, both the south and north bank of Collins Bridge are complete with stair sections installed in June, revegetation to start in spring, delayed due to dry weather and upgrading drainage works, to directly quote:
‘Installing the final part of the ramp has been delayed. We are now upgrading the existing drainage and stabilising the bank next to The Salvation Army. This additional work was not identified during the planning stage. The condition of assets and the geotechnical risks were not fully realised until construction‘
‘Parks Victoria will deliver upgraded drainage and additional embankment stabilisation. However, this unanticipated work has impacted project delivery and construction is now scheduled for completion by the end of 2025‘
November 2024: Parks Victoria: Gipps Street Elevated Path Community Update
Includes update on works, foundation works for the main ramp are complete on the north side and close to completion on the south side, ‘Unexpected surprises’, Traffic and stakeholder management and next steps. Completion now expected by mid 2025.
August 2024: Parks Victoria: Gipps Street Elevated Path Community Update
Includes project overview, the progress so far, demolition of the old steps, some unexpected finds, detours and traffic management and Collins Bridge temporary closure.
July 2023: Works finally commenced to replace the steps with ramps
- Parks Victoria: Gipps Street Elevated Path – Completion expected by end of 2024
- Boroondara Council: Walmer Street Bridge construction: Reopened December 2023
- Salta: southern Walmer landbridge construction at Park House: Finished in time for Christmas 2023
2005 – 2022: Gipps Street / Collins Bridge back history
By no means completely exhaustive but provides a backgrounder to how long this saga has stretched on.
Over 18 years since Yarra Bicycle Users Group held a Gipps Street Steps campaign day on 20 March 2005 at Abbotsford, a satisfactory resolution to this impasse maybe in sight somewhere over the horizon for walkers, riders, dogs and local wildlife.
Like many who are tired of this issue, that is unfortunately similar to the situation facing the nearby Walmer Street Bridge, dragging on seemingly for eternity, we hope the ramps construction does actually commence within this state governments electoral term
2022
It’s state election announceable season, baby
Victorian State Government: Ramping Up The Iconic Yarra Bike Trail (12 October 2022)
Bicycle Network: ‘Gipps Street Steps soon to be removed‘ (16 September 2022)
Bicycle Network: Gipps Street ramp gets green light (16 September 2022)
Richard Wynne MP: ‘The Andrews Labor Government is getting rid of one of Melbourne’s least loved set of steps… Gipps Street Steps‘ (16 September 2022)
Parks Victoria – September 2022: ‘Parks Victoria has sought tender submissions to construct the accessible walkway’.
Parks Victoria – August 2022: “Parks Victoria has sought tender submissions to construct the accessible walkway“
Parks Victoria – July 2022: “Parks Victoria has sought tender submissions to construct the accessible walkway” Sounds like the Gipps Street Steps ‘ramp replacement’ is going back out to tender, so there’s a delay to planned winter commencement of work.
Parks Victoria – Gipps Street Ramp: “As at February 2022, planning is currently underway for this project”
2021
December 2021: Yarra Council approves planning permit (Agenda item 6.3, Planning Decisions Committee, Wednesday 15 December 2021)
August 2021: the long running accessibility issue at Gipps Street / Main Yarra trail approach to Collins Bridge, connecting Abbotsford and Kew over the Yarra River has moved to a Planning Application at the City of Yarra.
Photo from YarraBUG’s Gipps Street Steps Campaign held March 20th, 2005 during Bike Path Discovery Day
City of Yarra – Advertised planning applications: Road Seg 200 – 223 Gipps Street, 81and 81a Victoria Crescent and Main Yarra Trail , Abbotsford. Permit number: PLN21/0208. The responsible authority won’t make a decision before: Tuesday 31 August 2021
Media Release: More Support For Melbourne’s Beloved Green Spaces (July 2021) “Funding of $5.2 million has been provided for construction of a ramp at Gipps Street on the main Yarra Trail adding to the $3.3 million invested for design and consultation. The ramp will replace the existing stairs and improve access for wheelchair users, cyclists and parents with prams.”
Bicycle Network: Gipps Street Steps “Bike riders have to carry their bike up and down three flights of steep steps to access on of Melbourne’s most popular bike routes, the Main Yarra Trail.”
Hansen: Gipps Street Ramp “Six years in the making, and involving extensive collaboration between Hansen’s landscape architecture and planning teams as well as Yarra City Council, Parks Victoria and Melbourne Water, the project will deliver a much needed upgrade to better connect the existing Main Yarra Trail to Gipps Street via a contiguous trail.”
2020
Contract Awarded – ITS2-00228: December 2020, Gipps Street Ramp Engineering Design Services
Tenders Victoria: November 2020, Procurement of Structural and Civil Engineering design services for the Gipps Street Ramp Project “Gipps Street ramp engineering design servicesIssued By Parks Victoria”
Streets Alive Yarra: Gipps Street Ramp “The Gipps Street ramp is a proposal to replace the notorious set of steps on the Main Yarra Trail at Gipps Street.”
2017
Update! Gipps Street, Abbotsford: “So you’ve been wondering what’s happening with Gipps Street, Abbotsford for over a decade? Parks Victoria have just announced news about building an all ability access ramp plus four weeks of consultation via survey. It appears the planets have finally aligned!”
Parks Victoria: “If you have ever lugged your bike or a pram up the Gipps Street steps in Abbotsford, relief is on its way. Parks Victoria is planning an all ability access ramp to replace the Gipps Street steps and give better access for everyone to enjoy the Main Yarra Trail. To have your say on the plan to improve cyclist and pedestrian safety and open a new viewing platform for visitors to this stretch of the Yarra River, complete the survey here http://bit.ly/2tOjLBs“
2016
Gipps Street Steps planned to be upgraded to ramp “After more than a decade of lobbying, inter-organisation planning, couple of false starts and some general hubris, the Gipps Street Steps in Abbotsford are planned to be redeveloped by Parks Victoria into an accessible ramp for all path users.”
Parks Victoria: Gipps Street Ramp “Planning has resumed to replace the Gipps Street steps on the Main Yarra Trail at Abbotsford with an elevated shared path ramp. Once complete, the new ramp will provide improved accessibility and a more enjoyable experience for all users of the Main Yarra Trail.”
2014
The Age: Cyclists fume over missing link back-pedal (Octber 2014): Cycling advocates have slammed the Victorian government over its failure to make good on a promise it made three years ago to fix a missing link in one of Melbourne’s premier off-road bike trails.
2012
The Age: Project bridges missing bike link: (September 2012) The Baillieu government has responded to sustained public pressure and committed to building a bridge that will connect a missing link on one of Melbourne’s premier bike trails. More than $250,000 has been allocated to Parks Victoria to begin building a bridge across the Yarra River in Abbotsford, at a spot where cyclists currently have to walk their bikes up or down steps. It is expected the bridge will be built by 2014.
2011
The Age: Yarra trail rides high on Evans win: (July 2011) “the final piece of Melbourne’s most popular bike trail is set to be completed in the wake of Cadel Evans’s historic Tour de France win. The Baillieu government last night announced it would proceed with a $4.3 million project to build a bridge over the Yarra River in Abbotsford after inquiries from The Age.
Earlier in the day the plan had won support from those closest to Evans, including his mother Helen Cocks, a keen cyclist who said her son would wholeheartedly back any plan to improve the path. The bridge will be built to service the Capital City bike trail and the Yarra bike trail, which runs for about 35 kilometres from the city along the river to Templestowe and is used by thousands of Melburnians each day.
But a 10-metre-high staircase in Abbotsford means riders must carry their bikes up 42 steps to Gipps Street before rejoining the path. Last August the Labor government unveiled a plan to build a $4.1 million bridge this year from Clarke Street that would save riders the climb.”
2008
Boroondara Bicycle Users Group: State government announces $150,000 in funding for the design of Clarke St Bridge as Gipps Street Stairs bypass.
2007
Melbourne Times: The path to a better bike path: “At the base of Gipps Street, Abbotsford, there are 41 obstacles – the number of steps city-bound cyclists have to climb with bikes in hand. Another problem is the demanding one-kilometre hill climb that immediately follows, on the Kew side. For a fit rider it’s an effort, but for a casual cyclist or a child the steps and the hill are daunting and dangerous, Barnett says. “It is much more of a workout than people expect.” These are not the only obstacles along the trail. Barnett says another set of stairs under the Chandler Highway in Kew – are high on most path users’ list of pet hates.
During Bike Path Discovery Day in 2005, puffed-out commuters snapped up 200 leaflets from BUG members at the top of the stairs. The campaigners even had to help several riders carry their bikes up.”
2006
Remember that media op on the Abbotsford path on drizzly Sunday 14 May 2006 with Peter Batchelor, John Thwaites and a bunch of recreational riders? We do!
The Age: Pedal-pushing councils break pollution cycle (15 May 2006) “Yesterday, their transport strategies received a vote of confidence when the State Government announced a $72 million boost in funding for bike paths. The money is to be spent over 10 years, and will be used to upgrade on-road bike lanes and off-road bike trails to make them safer for commuters and families and establish more direct routes around Melbourne. The funding boost was announced on the Capital City Trail in Abbotsford, where a much-loathed set of steps is to be replaced by a ramp.”
Photos from YarraBUG’s Gipps Street Steps Campaign, March 20th, 2005 during Bike Path Discovery Day
2005
Gipps Street Steps – Meet Richard Wynne (December 2005) “Message from Mark Dixon, Bicycle Victoria, also refer to YarraBUG Campaigns for updates, Hi all, We are holding a small event on the Gipps St steps next Wednesday. Bicycle Victoria and Richard Wynne, Member for Richmond will be handing out juices to morning commuters climbing the steps.”
Yarra Bicycle Users Group – Gipps Street Steps Campaign (pdf) There are three major cycling/accessibly issues in Gipps Street area requiring major infrastructure funding (Melways 44 F6):
a). Poor condition of Collins Bridge, (Note: completed July 2005)
b). Re-development of three flights of steep concrete steps on the Yarra Trail, (refer to attached October 2005 Media Release from Richard Wynne MHR)
c). The proposed Gipps St-Flockhart bike path extension.
March 2005: YarraBUG Gipps Street Steps Campaign Leaflet (pdf)
GippsStreetStepsCampaignMarch05
3 Pingbacks