PROJECT

Sommerville Road, Yarraville

Safer Bike Lanes

Cyclists on Sommerville Rd faced a risky ride through busy traffic, with limited visibility and no clearly defined lanes. New safe bike lanes in were installed as part of a strategy to create a safer riding network through Melbourne’s Inner West.

Client
Maribyrnong City Council

Location
Sommerville Rd, Yarraville, VIC

Service

CST

Sector

Transport & Road Infrastructure Civil Infrastructure

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Client Challenges

Bike riders lacked safe, skid-resistant lanes that were clearly separated from adjacent vehicle traffic. Without strong delineation, cyclists faced heightened risks in a high-traffic environment, increasing the likelihood of conflicts and accidents.

High traffic volumes, congestion, and impatient driving behaviors made the road particularly dangerous. Reduced visibility during peak hours further increased the likelihood of accidents and limited driver response times.

A constant flow of trucks and commercial vehicles created additional hazards for vulnerable road users. Their size and weight not only endangered cyclists and pedestrians but also accelerated road deterioration, demanding more frequent maintenance.

Solution

Delivering the fix

A durable, anti-slip coloured surface treatment for bike lanes

Working closely with Maribyrnong Council, OmniGrip delivered 780 m² of green bike lanes on Sommerville Rd using OmniGrip CST, a durable, slip and skid resistant surface made using 75% Australian recycled glass.

The upgrade created a dedicated space for cyclists, improved visibility for drivers, and fostered safer, more predictable interactions on a busy road network, while providing a greener solution that outlasts paint and reduces ongoing maintenance.

The results

Compliant with stringent road agency specifications

Skid-resistant for rider & driver safety

Slip-resistant for rider & pedestrian safety

Outlasts and outperform paint-based products

DIVERTED

Australian crushed recycled glass from landfill (equivalent of 27,000 beer bottles)

Impact

“Many of my neighbours and me ride our bikes along Somerville Road. We’ve had lots of near misses between trucks, cars and bikes. Since the green lanes were added, cars, trucks and bike riders are behaving a lot better. It feels so much safer than before.”

Kim, 32

Somerville Road resident