Work on $10.2 million missing active link in City’s west crosses the finish line

Pedestrians and cyclists are set to enjoy a new 75-metre long bridge, boardwalks, priority crossings and dedicated walking and cycling paths with the completion of the North-West T-way Paths project through Constitution Hill.

The project is co-funded by City of Parramatta and a $10.1 million investment from the NSW Government’s Get NSW Active Program to provide the community with an improved, safer and more scenic route when walking or cycling from Windsor to Parramatta.

City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Martin Zaiter said the new cycleway will also connect people in the suburbs west of the CBD to the City’s health and innovation district in Westmead.

“About 100,00 pedestrians and 30,000 cyclists use the T-way Path in Parramatta each year, so it makes sense to create a safer, better integrated and more enjoyable route for residents in the suburbs north and west of the CBD,” Cr Zaiter said.

“It’s now much safer and easier for people to travel along the route to get to work or school, or to enjoy the great outdoors for exercise and fun which we know contributes to healthier communities.”

The project responds to a strong community preference for separate paths for pedestrians and cyclists on routes with higher volumes of people, or wider paths with room to pass comfortably if the path needs to be shared.

About 90 per cent of the re-alignment has separated paths that are complemented by a new, generous 5-metre-wide bridge over Toongabbie Creek that has room to move, or just stop and enjoy the view.  

“We’ve created new paths for walking and cycling, which has removed three of the last four on-road sections between here and Windsor, and makes the route much safer,” Cr Zaiter said.

“This project is one of 21 pedestrian and cyclist connections being delivered in our City this year.

“Almost 20 kilometres of new pedestrian and cyclist paths are set to be delivered in the next three years as part of our updated Bike Plan.”

Kathryn Crestani, Acting Executive Director of Cities Integration, Transport for NSW said it is now easier for people to walk or ride along this critical connection.

“The $10.1 million funding grant to the City of Parramatta through the Get NSW Active program will make it easier for people to travel in and around Parramatta. Transport for NSW is particularly excited about this project as the T-Way provides a critical connection for the local community to Toongabbie Public School and Westmead Private Hospital,” Ms Crestani said.

“We want more people to walk or ride as their preferred way to get around. It’s not only great for the health of our communities but also for reducing traffic congestion, emissions, and transport costs.”

The Get NSW Active program provides councils with grants to deliver projects that encourage more people to walk or bike ride as part of their everyday travel.  

Key North-West T-way Paths project works included:

A 5m wide new bridge over Toongabbie Creek A separate bike path on the eastern side of Ferndale Close between Old Windsor Road and Constitution Road A shared path on the:o    Eastern side of Ferndale Close south of Constitution Roado    Eastern side of Harris Roado    Northern side of Briens Road west of Mons Roado    Council reserves connecting Harris Road with Briens Road and Chetwyn Place Pedestrian and cyclist priority crossings on the eastern side of:o    Ferndale Close at Doig Street and Tanderagee Streeto    Harris Street at Portadown Road

The T-way Paths project is part of Council’s plans to improve safety on the North-West T-way path to Windsor and link it a new proposed major pedestrian and cyclist spine between Toongabbie and Westmead. Together they will provide easier connections to train stations, schools, parks, other regional walking and cycling paths, Parramatta Park and the CBD.

For more information visit Council’s website.