Sydney’s busiest bike route is closer to having a separated cycleway with construction works on the Oxford and Liverpool Street project now underway.
Once complete, the nearly 1km long cycleway will give thousands of daily riders a two-way link between the city and the eastern suburbs, greatly improving the safety and enjoyment of riding.
The City of Sydney’s Oxford Street west project involves construction between Castlereagh Street and Taylor Square, while the state government’s Oxford Street east project will be built between Taylor Square and Paddington Gates.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore was joined by our contractors, Mack Civil, turning the first sod on a section of the project near Hyde Park.
“Oxford Street is our most popular street for riding, but it also has the most reported bike crashes of any street in our area. This dedicated cycleway will give thousands of people confidence to safely get around on two wheels,” Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO said.
“When we install safe cycling infrastructure we regularly see the number of people riding that route double in the first 12 months. We know more people want to ride, but will only do so when they feel it’s safe – that’s why we’re working so hard to complete our bike network.
“This important project will also calm traffic, create a buffer that makes the footpath more pleasant and increase the number of people using the street, all of which will make Oxford Street an even more vibrant part of our city.”
When finished, parking controls on Oxford Street will largely reflect the existing situation, with peak period bus lanes and off-peak loading and parking.
The cycleway will run along the northern side of Liverpool Street and Oxford Street between Castlereagh Street and Taylor Square, with the works including:
- a separator kerb between the cycleway and the eastbound traffic lanes
- new garden beds, street furniture and continuous footpath treatments
- upgrading nine signalised intersections and pedestrian crossings
- new signs and line marking
- stormwater drainage works
- minor changes to parking and loading
- minor changes to street lighting
- minor modifications to the location of bus stops.
Initial works to remove a median strip on Liverpool Street and carry out site investigations began in November ahead of the Christmas break.
Construction will be staged to minimise disruption and will begin on the Liverpool Street section of the project, between Elizabeth and College streets.
The Oxford Street west project is one part of an essential link in the state government’s strategic vision for connecting people riding between the eastern suburbs and the city centre.
The City of Sydney expects the work between Taylor Square and Castlereagh Street to be complete by the end of the year, weather and other conditions permitting.
The project is jointly funded by the City of Sydney and the NSW Government, which is providing $11.6 million as part of its Get NSW Active program.
The State Government is delivering a dedicated cycleway on the southern side of Oxford Street east of Taylor Square and up to Paddington Gates to fill the missing link between the City’s Oxford Street west and the existing cycleways along Oxford Street at Centennial Park and to Bondi Junction.
The City of Sydney is a strong supporter of the Oxford Street east project.
For media enquiries contact Andrew Booth: 0482 530 091 or email abooth@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
For interviews with Clover Moore AO, Lord Mayor of Sydney contact Paul Mackay. Phone 0436 816 604 or email pmackay@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au.