LCT Shared Cycling and Pedestrian Path

Epping Road Works

Work has now commenced on the section of shared path along Epping Road between the Lane Cove River and the Pacific Highway. Under the contact this is scheduled for completion within eleven months of the tunnel opening ie by end February 2008. Once this is finished there will a 7.5km path connecting the lower North Shore to the North Ryde area.

There is some controversy about these works on Epping Road which are being equated to the Cross City Tunnel issues by some sections of the media. People who ride bikes need to understand what is being planned, that there is already much support for these works and what you can do to support the works.

The works currently underway include provision (among other objectives) for walking and cycling facilities along Epping Road. State government policy is that bike facilities should be provided as part of all major road works. Cycling is prohibited in the tunnel, so the facilities are being provided along Epping Road.

These have been planned for many years and have been the subject of much consultation. Bike North has been involved in that consultation process since 2001 through some of the Focus Groups for the EIS and once the project commenced through Community Liaison Groups. While many of the comments Bike North has made through that consultation process on the form the cycling facility takes have NOT been taken on board, it still will provide an excellent accessible facility for people to walk and cycle between Naremburn, Artarmon, Lane Cove, Lane Cove West and North Ryde.

Many other local community groups have been part in the consultation process too over those years. The general consensus is these changes to Epping Road are wanted by the local community. Thats why the government decided to procede with these changes after they reviewed them intensively last year.

While the Epping Road works will result in a reduction in motor car capacity on Epping Road, it will continue to provide access for through motor vehicle traffic while also catering to other road users - those who have not been adequately catered for previously. The overall capacity for motor vehicles along the corridor will still be well in excess of that available prior to the opening of the Lane Cove Tunnel and will be able to cope well with existing traffic volumes.

By providing for bikes and buses along this corridor, people will have realistic options to using their motor car - there will be choice.

To better understand the overall scope of works proposed along Epping Road see the Lane Cove Tunnel Project website.

To better understand the final proposed configuration of Epping Road see the RTA website. Note these are mid block configurations - there is far greater capacity provided at the road intersections. .......

How can YOU show support for this path? ...

  • by using the path when it is completed
  • by responding to negative talk you hear personally and in the media
  • by responding to negative letters in the media - particularly the North Shore Times and Northern District Times but also the daily newspapers
  • by telling your local member that you think the path will be / is great
  • by telling the Roads Minister its great and maybe even sending them a 'thank you'

Contact details

Newspapers

NSW Parliament

Eric Roozendaal - NSW Minister for Roads

Find your local member of parliament here

Last update: 14/01/2007— Copyright © 2007