Project Design Map

The Rankin Park to Jesmond project will improve traffic flow, reduce travel times and improve safety on the surrounding road network.

Learn more about the key features of the project by clicking on the icons on the map.

The project involves building a 3.4 kilometre four-lane divided road including:

a northern interchange at Newcastle Road
an interchange providing access to the John Hunter Hospital precinct
a southern interchange at Lookout Road
structures to improve connectivity in the bushland for people and animals
off-road provisions for pedestrians and cyclists, including the completed shared path bridge over Newcastle Road at Jesmond Park and a cycle over and underpass at the northern interchange
a sign posted speed limit of 90km/h

Key project features

The bypass provides three interchanges designed to improve traffic flow and increase connectivity. When completed, motorists travelling on the new section of bypass would avoid up to 11 sets of traffic lights along the existing route.

Southern interchange

The southern interchange provides access to Lookout Road and the existing Kotara to Rankin Park section of the Newcastle Inner City Bypass. The bypass travels under McCaffrey Drive. The half interchange provides connection in both directions on Lookout Road.

Hospital interchange

The hospital interchange is to the west of the John Hunter Hospital precinct and provides a new access point to the hospital. The full interchange provides all movements to/from the bypass and the hospital precinct.

Northern interchange

The northern interchange provides access to Newcastle Road and the existing Jesmond to Shortland section of the Newcastle Inner City Bypass. The full interchange provides all movements to/from the bypass and Newcastle Road. The existing Jesmond roundabout will be replaced with traffic lights providing access in all directions. Motorists continuing on the bypass will travel across a bridge above Newcastle Road which avoids this set of traffic lights.

Shared path bridge

A shared path bridge was completed over Newcastle Road at Jesmond in November 2020 as early work on the project. This bridge improves safety and connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists and removed a set of mid-block traffic lights on Newcastle Road at Jesmond Park.

Bridges

Construction of the bypass includes building six new bridges:

Taking northbound traffic on Lookout Road over the bypass
Over the bypass for motorists accessing McCaffrey Drive and Lookout Road
Providing hospital access to/from the north
Providing an underpass for bushwalker access, fauna movements and drainage
For motorists continuing on the bypass over the Newcastle Road exit
For motorists continuing on the bypass over Newcastle Road

Pedestrian and cyclist facilities

Along with the construction of the bypass there will be additional footpaths and shared paths to maintain and increase access and safety. This includes:

A shared path along Lookout Road opposite the southern interchange
A footpath along McCaffrey Drive near the southern interchange
A shared path crossing the bypass at the hospital interchange
An underpass through the bushland between the hospital interchange and the northern interchange
More shared paths around Jesmond Park connecting to the existing shared path bridge over Newcastle Road
A shared path at the northern interchange involving a new bridge followed by an underpass to ensure safe pedestrian and cyclist access

Fauna connectivity

There are several fauna connectivity structures being installed as part of the bypass:

An underpass for terrestrial fauna between the southern and hospital interchanges
An underpass through the bushland between the hospital interchange and the northern interchange would provide passage for fauna underneath the bridge span
Rope bridges for arboreal (tree-dwelling) fauna at two separate locations

There will also be fencing to guide fauna to the crossing structures. The fencing would be established as close as possible to the final road to maximise available habitat for fauna.