Wollongong City Council will push ahead with controversial cycle-friendly traffic changes in the CBD in 2021, installing a new on-road bike lane and making a major thoroughfare a one-way street.
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In July, the council revealed details of four cycling pilot projects on Wednesday, which are aimed at encouraging more people to ride bikes as the city becomes a cycling destination.
The most dramatic plan is for Smith Street, which will become a one-way route east-bound for cars between Keira Street and Harbour Street to make space for a dedicated cycleway linking the harbour with the rail line bike path.
Parking for residents will remain on both sides along the one way section of the street, but the cycleway will take out the car route from Harbour to Keira Street.
The council will also convert parts of Kembla and Harbour streets to cycleways, and take out segments of on-street parking on these streets.
Now, after six months of consultation, the council has sent details of how the roll-out will work to affected residents, and says changes will be put in place over the summer.
Part of the Free Gong Shuttle Bus route will change as part of the roll out, with more details available soon.
"Just recently council adopted our Cycling Strategy for 2030 and some of the key goals within this plan are to make Wollongong easier and safer for cyclists,'' Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said.
"We know not everyone cycles, but by improving cycling infrastructure we're improving active transport opportunities and making shared pathways more accessible to everyone.''
Cr Bradbery said the changes would be phased in and there would be signage in place before work starts and upon completion.
"This is an exciting time for our city as we take a fresh look at how we get out and about," he said.
Port Kembla, Towradgi and Thirroul will also soon be home to new cycleways.
In Thirroul, the initial concept for on-road cycling along Station, McCauley and Harbord streets has been changed, and the council is now seeking feedback on a proposal to have bike riders travel on existing and newly-constructed shared paths in Thomas Gibson Park to Newbold Close and on-road to the existing road cycling route in Surfers Parade.
"When we asked the community about the Thirroul proposal the feedback clearly indicated community concern about riding along Station Street,'' Cr Bradbery said.
"We took onboard this commentary about it being too narrow and congested with traffic, and looked for an alternative route that supported better connections between the train station and the beach.''
Kate McIlwain
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
