A surge in bicycle traffic across Sydney Harbour is expected in coming months, with the Harbour Bridge cyleway ramp build entering the home stretch to completion.
The 170-metre ramp to the Bridge cyleway will significantly improve bike access, ending the challenge faced by cyclists who have for five decades pushed their bikes up 55-steps to make it to the cycle path which links Milsons Point to Millers Point.
A ramp will open up the Harbour crossing to many more people, including older cyclists and those with heavier e-bikes who currently struggle to get them up the stairs.
In his original vision for the Harbour Bridge, John incorporated space for bicycle traffic, but by 1962 cars had taken over and bikes were banned in traffic lanes.
The new ramp, will provide equality of access and help take some vehicles off the Bridge in peak times as more people commute by bike to the CBD or North Sydney.
More than 70,000 pavers have now been laid of the 130,000 that will create an intertwining eels artwork by Aboriginal artists Jason Wing and Maddie Gibbs.
The eels, which honour the connection to the area of the Gadigal and Cammeraygal people, go north and south.
Some of the granite being used to pave the ramp has been sourced from Moruya which supplied the granite for the Harbour Bridge pylons.
The 1500 bronze balustrades for the ramp, produced mainly in Western Sydney, have been made from the same alloy type as the Sydney Opera House bronze and the ramp is being painted in the heritage-listed Sydney Harbour Bridge Grey.
An opening date for the ramp will be finalised and advised in coming weeks.
Minister for Transport John Graham said:
"Cadel Evans described the 55-steps up to the Bridge cycle path as 'not very well thought out', which is quite an understatement from Australia's only ever Tour de France winner. This cycling infrastructure is long overdue.
"As Sydneysiders, we are rightly proud of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and now we can be prouder of the cycling access to the Bridge.
"We expect this to encourage more cyclists to commute north and south when for so many years just getting on to the Bridge was a challenge in itself.
"The paving artwork and ramp materials will become a visitor attraction in themselves and add another point of interest to this iconic part of Sydney."
Transport for NSW Executive Director Integration & Place East Anna Bradley said:
"Everyone involved in delivering the new Sydney Harbour Bridge cycleway ramp is understandably very excited and very proud of this magnificent piece of infrastructure.
"It has taken years of meticulous planning to honour the cultural and historical significance of the site, and we cannot wait to share the project with the community.
"We are confident the cycleway will become a tourism destination in its own right, attracting visitors of all ages to enjoy the magic of Sydney Harbour in a new way."
