Cliff Road traffic changes as Blue Mile Tramway work continues

A bird’s-eye view of the project, which started in March, shows all of the 140 panels that make up the new seawall are in place and the widened path has begun taking shape.

Builders are working from north to south to complete the 500-metre project, which spans the section of coast from Belmore Basin to North Wollongong beach.

A Wollongong City Council spokeswoman said the pathway, which has sections that are more than double the width of the old path, would be poured in segments.

Its detailed patterning would replicate the existing pathway around the North Beach Bathers Pavilion, she said.

“The tiling along the shared pathway that indicates the original line of the historic tramway is laid as each section of the pathway is completed,” she said.

A pre-cast capping beam, running the length of the seawall, is also being installed.

As work progresses, the council will implement traffic changes on Cliff Road at North Wollongong – to make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists to get about.

From Friday, drivers will no longer be able to turn left onto Cliff Road from the one-way leg of the street outside the Novotel Wollongong Northbeach.

Large planter boxes will be installed on the road outside the hotel and there will be line marking changes in the area. 

A vehicle turning bay will be added to help cars parked outside the hotel to turn around and the existing motorcycle parking will be shifted to Blacket Street.

The temporary changes have not reduced parking options outside the hotel, the spokeswoman said.

The changes will remain in place until the project has been completed.

The spokeswoman said “with good weather conditions and favourable seas”, the upgrade should be finished by winter.

Meanwhile, the Gentlemen’s Pool remains closed because it sits within the project worksite. 

People can still use the Continental Pool via a temporary boardwalk.