New shared path to connect Fairy Meadow and North Gong

We’re calling for feedback on a draft design for a new shared pathway along the Princes Highway, between Guest Avenue, Fairy Meadow and Station Street, North Wollongong.

In line with our status as a UCI Bike City, and as part of Council’s Wollongong Cycling Strategy 2030, we’re committed to improving cycling infrastructure across our city.

To achieve this, we’re working closely with the NSW Government to fund and deliver cycleways and shared paths alongside regional and state roads, including the Princes Highway. Council are working with Transport NSW to upgrade existing traffic lights on these routes to improve crossings for pedestrians and cyclists.

The proposed shared path along the Princes Highway will help link up existing shared paths and cycleways, as well as future shared paths that are already planned.

“The aim of this project is to connect Fairy Meadow to North Wollongong. This new proposed shared path links to the existing paths that connect North Wollongong Station to the University of Wollongong, the Innovation Campus and the Coastline Cycleway along Montague Street,” Wollongong City Council Director Infrastructure + Works (Acting) Joanne Page said.

“At the same time, this project will also set us up for the future, as we’ve identified that a shared path will eventually be built along Elliots Road, to connect the Fairy Meadow village centre to the coastal cycleway.”

Community members can find out more and provide feedback by visiting the Our Wollongong website. As part of our engagement process, we’ll also contact local businesses to discuss how the proposed shared path can integrate with the footpaths outside their businesses.

Construction for this section of the shared path is expected to begin mid-2022, after we review our community’s feedback and consider their insights as we finalise our design.

“Access to good cycling infrastructure such as shared paths, are an important way we can make our communities more accessible for everyone. Shared paths are great for pedestrians and cyclists and offer convenient transport routes for people travelling in and around their community,” she said.

“We want to encourage more members of our community to feel confident to ride a bike, regardless of their level of ability. Not everyone is comfortable riding a bike on the road with traffic, so shared paths and cycleways are a solution that everyone can make use of.”

Feedback closes 5pm Monday 15 November 2021 and you can find out more by visiting the Our Wollongong website.

Council has been busy when it comes to improving cycling infrastructure! We’re currently working to complete pop-up cycling routes in Port Kembla and the Wollongong CBD to make it easier for people to cycle around their communities.

Read more in our media release: ‘Spring’s the season for cycling’.