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.png "Toongabbie to Westmead Pedestrian and Cyclist Corridor")
There are significant benefits of building a bridge to the broader community, the most prominent is that it will complete one of the key missing links in the Homebush Bay Circuit (HBC). On the HBC there are currently 17,000 cyclists and 11,500 pedestrians per month, peaking at 22,000 and 17,500 in summer.
Council anticipates that there will be a significant boost in these numbers when the bridge opens, followed by the remaining foreshore opening at Block H and Nuvolari Place to Verona Drive.
This is a crucial piece of infrastructure that will create greater connection in and out of Wentworth Point for cyclists and pedestrians.
The path has been proposed on the northern side for a number of reasons including:
- Cyclist and pedestrian safety - this would mean that pedestrians and cyclists avoid having to cross Bennelong Parkway twice and reduce the risk of potential accidents with motorists
- Lower ecological impact - the southern side has a greater scale of Endangered Ecological Communities (EEC) on both banks
- More direct connection - Bennelong Parkway is a shorter, more direct connection to Hill Road and will reduce pressure on the foreshore promenade
A standalone lightweight bridge is the most cost-effective option, and allows for the future of the adjacent road bridge to be independent.
The proposed width is required to accommodate current and future volumes, and allows for visual separation.
A new raised priority island will be constructed between Badu Mangroves and Millennium Parklands as part of the project, and the existing refuge island at the Archery carpark will be upgraded to a raised pedestrian and cyclist crossing.
Drivers will need to give way to all users crossing a driveway as they currently do to anyone on the footpath.
As per the current arrangements, space is allowed in middle of Bennelong Parkway for vehicles to hold for a right turn without blocking traffic. Similarly, at The Piazza intersection there is room for a vehicle to store outside of the roundabout circulation whilst waiting for a pedestrian or cyclist to cross.
