The missing link in the chain of Melbourne's off-road bike paths will soon be in place, with work to extend the Darebin Creek trail due to start later this year.

Cyclists have campaigned for more than 20 years for a connection between the trail in Ivanhoe and the Main Yarra Trail in Kew, but work on the $18 million project stalled because of disputes with the Boroondara council and the Latrobe Golf Club over land access.

Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said the State Government had used its powers under the Major Transport Projects Facilitation Act to clear a path for the kilometre-long final section to be built.

"It's not the usual thing we'd use it for, but it's very appropriate in these circumstances where we can't compulsorily acquire land that we need to complete this missing link," he said.

"Building the missing link in the Darebin Creek trail will safely connect northern suburbs residents to over 600 kilometres of cycling trails across Melbourne."

The final section will include a three-metre-wide concrete path through Latrobe Golf Club and Willsmere Park to connect with the Main Yarra Trail in Kew East near the Eastern Freeway, and a 50-metre bridge over the Yarra River.

Bicycle Network chief executive Craig Richards said the link would benefit hundreds of cyclists, who would no longer be forced onto busy roads.

"We've got the basis of a great bike network in Melbourne but some of the links still need to be made, and this link is absolutely vital," he said.

Mr Richards said it had been a long, sometimes fraught campaign.

"I hadn't been with Bicycle Network for very long and we all came down here as a team and had a look at this area and someone chased me with a hose," he said.

"It's show that this has been a pretty passionate project for lots of people."

The final stage of the project is due to be completed in late 2017.