Have your say
Options for the Alfred Street North access to the new Ridge Street shared user bridge
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Background
Transport is committed to investing in cycling and walking infrastructure that is safe and well-designed. In addition to the replacement of the Ridge Street bridge with a wider structure to improve this connection for both pedestrians and cyclists, the following pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure will be provided as part of the Warringah Freeway Upgrade:
A new shared user path along the southern side of the High Street bridge at North Sydney with signalised pedestrian crossings at the upgraded Alfred Street North and High Street intersection, North Sydney
A new shared user bridge on the northern side of Ernest Street at Cammeray, connecting ANZAC Park and Cammeray golf course, which will provide upgraded pedestrian and cycle connectivity on the Ernest Street bridge
Replacement of the Falcon Street pedestrian and cyclist bridge with a new shared user bridge.
Later this year, there will be further opportunities for you to provide feedback on visual amenity, including the look of the new Ridge Street shared user bridge crossing, as part of the Warringah Freeway Upgrade Place Design and Landscape Plan (PDLP).
The purpose of this community consultation is to determine bridge users preference on how they access the new Ridge Street shared user bridge from street level on Alfred Street North.
New Ridge Street shared user bridge
The new Ridge Street bridge will be an upgraded, separated pedestrian and cyclist crossing of the Warringah Freeway between Ridge Street and Alfred Street North, connecting North Sydney and Neutral Bay.
It will be built about 40m south of the existing bridge and was publicly displayed as part of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS, 2021).
The new bridge will be wider than the existing bridge and will include a dedicated pedestrian footpath and bicycle lanes providing safer, improved walking and cycling journeys.
Access to the bridge from Ridge Street, North Sydney will include a replacement lookout 40 metres south of the existing lookout at Ridge Street and is consistent with what was shown in the EIS.
All bridge connection design options provide accessibility access to the main bridge span to travel between Alfred Street North in Neutral Bay and Ridge Street in North Sydney.
Following valuable feedback from the community and to further minimise impacts including construction footprint, visual amenity, privacy, impact to surrounding vegetation, and improve access, an alternative design has been identified.
Following comprehensive site investigations and design workshops, an alternative design has been developed that also meets compliance and safety requirements, and considers the needs of the local community, cyclists and pedestrians. This alternative design option will provide Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) access on the main bridge span as a shared path which is also provided on the western connection at Ridge Street. The two bridge design options and the three road design options for Alfred Street North have been developed for public consultation.
Click on each option to find out more. You can have your say until 5pm Sunday 19 March 2023.
Option 1 – Looped ramp
This design includes a long looped ramp from Alfred Street North for bridge access.
This is the original design for the bridge connection shown in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in 2021. This design raised concerns from the community due to its bulky nature and 140 metre long looped travel path.
There is no lift in this design.
This design provides one access option for bridge users, the 140 metre long looped ramp only.
This option is more visually intrusive for Alfred Street North residents, than Option 2.
Option 2 – Ramp & lift
This design includes a sloped ramp and electric lift for bridge access.
This design provides two access options for bridge users, travel along the ramp or use the lift
This option is more refined than Option 1, it takes up less space on Alfred Street North by reducing the area needed to build the bridge connection. It is less visually intrusive for nearby properties.
Accessible access adjustment of Alfred Street North footway required from lift proceeding north on Alfred Street North to Winter Avenue not shown and subject to detailed design.
Summary of Alfred Street North shared user bridge connection design options
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Key Considerations |
Option 1 Looped ramp presented in EIS |
Option 2 Ramp and lift |
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Land and property |
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Active transport |
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Accessibility access |
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Environment |
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Safety/Crime Prevention Principles |
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Parking |
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Community |
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Have your say
Have your say online now
Hard copy submissions
Please contact the Warringah Freeway upgrade project team if you would like to receive a hard copy of the feedback form by emailing your request to whtbl@transport.nsw.gov.au or call 1800 931 189.
Community information webinars
Thank you for joining our live webinars on Thursday 2 March. We hope you found these webinars helpful.
Please find the live recordings from both sessions below: