Smith Street cycleway gets ready to open – Wollongong

We’re putting in the final touches for Smith Street as we get ready to open the new on-road cycleway this week.

Over the weekend, our crews removed the road barriers and are now completing the last of the road marking work along the new cycling route on the eastern end of Smith Street and along Harbour Street.

From next week, we’ll also begin the final adjustments to the verge at the western end of Smith Street to transform a section of the verge into a shared path.

At the same time, we’re getting ready to begin work on Kembla Street to build a new on-road cycleway. Kembla Street will remain two-way and the new cycleway route will provide an on-road link into the heart of Wollongong’s CBD.

From today to Monday 10 May, weather depending, you’ll see changes along the western side of Kembla Street from the roundabout at Smith Street to Crown Street.

Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said that there would be some changes to the layout of Kembla Street to improve access for cyclists, and to clearly delineate points where riders and drivers share the street space.

“The western side of Kembla Street will become a separated on-road cycleway between Smith and Crown Streets so that bike riders can travel in both directions,” Cr Bradbery said.

“To facilitate this change, we’ll be removing the 19 timed on-street parking spaces on the western side of the street between Market and Smith Streets.”

There will be no permanent loss of on-street parking along Kembla Street between Crown Street and Market Street.

“Council understands that some of these changes will require a change of habit, particularly for drivers who don’t often travel through the Wollongong CBD,” Cr Bradbery said.

“We want to get the Kembla Street portion of works done as quickly as possible to help minimise the impact works have on our community.

“Once works begin, there will be traffic control and signage in place to support drivers using the road and minimise confusion.”

The cycleways along Smith and Harbour Streets are expected to officially open shortly, depending on weather conditions.

“We want to empower everyone, especially those who aren’t expert bike riders, to feel comfortable, safe and welcome to cycle through the Wollongong CBD,” Cr Bradbery said.

“Council’s pop-up cycleways are an important step towards improving the cycling infrastructure in our City so that we can make it easier and more appealing for people to use a bike as a mode of transport.”

Visit the Wollongong Pop-Up Cycling Routes webpage

/Public Release. View in full here.