Spring’s the season for cycling

With warmer weather ahead, we’re already seeing many residents, families and children get on the bike and go for a ride.

At the same time, work is progressing on the Port Kembla and Wollongong pop-up cycleways providing more opportunities to get out and about more easily.

In Port Kembla, we’ve finished work along Military Road to install traffic separators, repair the kerb and gutter as well as putting in line marking and signage. We’ve given this section of the cycleway a good sweep with a mechanical broom to clear any debris and it’s now ready for people to enjoy.

In Wollongong’s CBD, we’ve completed additional work along Gladstone Avenue, Smith Street and Kembla Street. Although much of the Wollongong CBD pop-up cycleway is already being used by community members, we’ll continue to make adjustments as needed to the design and complete any additional work over the next few weeks.

“Council is pleased to see so many residents make use of the completed cycleways in Thirroul and Towradgi. What’s more we’ve also seen people bike ride around the Port Kembla and Wollongong CBD pop-up cycleways which is great,” Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said.

“Good infrastructure to support on-road and off-road cycling is a real benefit to our community as it allows bike riders of different abilities to enjoy and access their community.

“At the same time, decreasing our reliance on cars for shorter trips and outdoor recreation is a positive way we can make our city more sustainable into the future.

“As lockdown restrictions ease over the coming months, there will be more people using our shared pathways and on-road cycleways. For some people who haven’t visited the CBD or left home in a while, some of these changes might be a bit of a surprise.

“We ask that everyone is considerate when using our roads, cycleways and footpaths. These are shared spaces and that means everyone has a responsibility be aware of others and do the right thing. We appreciate cooperation from drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.

“For people using our shared paths, we also ask that you be mindful of others as you enjoy these assets. Our shared paths are for both pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy and as we enter summer, these share paths will get busier. When moving around others make sure you slow down, be aware of your surroundings and share the space.”

Works update for Port Kembla

Military Road

We’ve finished installing traffic separators, line marking, signage and repaired the kerb and gutter. With this complete, we’ll look to place VMS signs along sections of the road to remind drivers that traffic conditions have changed and that they need to drive slower in line with the new 50km/hr speed limit.

Dovers Drive

We’re currently completing pavement and road marking and we’ll soon install signage.

Works update for Wollongong CBD

Station Street, Burelli and MacCabe Park link

We’ve completed line marking along this section to link Station Street to MacCabe Park via Burelli Street. We’ll be installing signage in October.

Gladstone Avenue

Works to install traffic separators, kerb ramps, signage and line marking has been completed. We’ll now look to install signage to complete this section of the pop-up cycleway.

Stewart Street (between Corrimal to Church streets)

We’re getting ready to start works to install signage and speed cushions later this year. Right now, we’re conducting a noise survey along Stewart Street to understand the impact of traffic on surrounding residents and businesses.

Smith Street and Kembla Street additional work

We’ve made some changes to the design for Kembla Street and Smith Street to improve this section of the cycleway route. These include adjustments to parking bays beside driveways, bicycle priority signage at the Thomas Street intersection, and line marking.

Works are scheduled to start this month and should take a few days to complete, pending weather conditions. During construction we’ll need to temporarily block off up to 15 car spaces on the eastern side of Smith Street to carry out the work.

For more information about this project see our Pop-Up Cycling Routes page.

This project is proudly funded by the NSW Government in association with Wollongong City Council.