This site is a read-only archived copy of the site KissYourPathGoodbye.com from September 2018, prior to the domain name expiring.
On 1 May 2018, the Roads and Maritime Services released an updated design for the Rankin Park to Jesmond bypass, and it is good news for cyclists and pedestrians!
The Jesmond cycleway is to be retained as a grade separated path with a combination of a bridge over the entry/exit lanes and a short tunnel under the bypass.
More details are in the April 2018 project update from the RMS.
In 2020, Transport for NSW released an update which made further improvements to the design of the shared path. Now instead of going through a tunnel under the north-south roadway, it goes under the bridge. This is much better for visibility and safety as the path is now entirely in the open air.
Graphic of the proposed shared path bridge/tunnel at the northern interchange, from the RMS April 2018 update. [Superseded by an amended design in 2020]
Hi Lachlan, thanks for this info. I cycle this path every week and although I’d heard some talk of a new overpass, I didn’t realise it foreshadowed the severing of the path itself. I’ve put in a submission objecting to the plan to neglect cyclists and pedestrians, based on the info you have assembled here.
Hello Lachlan, I attended the drop in information session on Thursday and like Daniel above was explained the options currently being investigated and difficulties with getting a design to work that wasn’t “inherently unsafe itself” due to steep and/or spiral ramp grades etc. They did say they need to provide a report with responses to all submissions including any additional investigations and design changes made as a result of submissions. What surprised me was that the project manager said he hadn’t been contacted by you regarding this website. Any reason for this? I would have thought you’d go direct to the source to try and get answers etc. Good work though for raising the profile on this issue.
> What surprised me was that the project manager said he hadn’t been contacted by you regarding this website. Any reason for this?
Who is the Project Manager? What are the contact details? I will gladly contact them.
Contact details Lachlan are on the rms project website. Also has link to the EIS.
Thanks I see the details now at http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/hunter/newcastle-inner-city-bypass/rankin-park-to-jesmond/index.html
I’ve been mainly looking at the EIS site(http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=6888_ so hadn’t noticed the contact details on the RMS site.
I’ve rung the 1800 818 433 number, which was pretty useless as they wouldn’t let me actually talk to anyone, but just advised me to send an e-mail or letter. I’ve sent an e-mail asking for the Project Manager to ring me back – lets see what happens now.
They are tying to find any excuse they can to not put an overpass in, the statements about the gradients are absolute rubbish. There is a shared path on Kirkdale drive which is 18% gradient.
The concept design they had for an overpass was also rediculous as it was 12m off the ground, almost 500m long with spiral ramps and went over the main highway itself, I developed a concept which only went over the two ‘ramps’ and was 120m long, 6-8m off the ground… this connected the paths and went under the main bypass… the PM has told me they are investigating this option but I’m not holding my breath.. they are just trying to fob us off..
These people are supposed to be highly educated professional engineers with the community interests at heart, from what I’ve seen out of them a high school kid could have done better at finding a solution…
This current pathway is a great part of the local community. Families, kids and cyclists all share this space. A continuous path is essential. Let’s hope the mrs are listening.