Lane Cove Tunnel Proposal
PREFERRED ACTIVITY REPORT RELEASED!BICYCLE ISSUES NOT ADDRESSED... more detail coming |
Documents Available on this web site: Bicycle NSW Submission to the EIS - February 2002 Bike North Submission on
the Environmental Overview Report - March 2000 BNSW Response to Focus Groups - July 2000 BNSW Dissastisfaction with final Focus Group Meeting - August 2000 |
Brief History
For many years residents of Lane Cove have campaigned for a tunnel under Epping Road to remove the traffic which fills the roads every day. The argument is that a tunnel is required to complete the links between the M2 motorway in the west and the Gore Hill Freeway in the east. This would return the road space to the local community.
The RTA engaged consultants to run the preliminary part of the process to build a tunnel. Hyder Consulting produced an Environmental Overview Report which was available for public comment in February and March 2000. This report identified the preferred route for a tunnel and gave some options as to how the proposal should be implemented. In particular the report recommended reducing the capacity of Epping Road on the surface and to create a preferential environment for public transport by use of transit or bus lanes. Cycle facilities were suggested along many parts of the route. There are major questions over the quality of the facilities
Bike North made a submission in response to this document (and the full text is available on this web site). The North Shore Bike Group also made extensive comments.
The process involves more consultation before moving to the stage of a formal Environmental Impact Statement which is expected before the end of 2000.
From April to August community focus groups met which further examined some of the issues. Cyclists are represented by the North Shore Bike Group and Bicycle NSW. For further information contact Russ Webber or Carolyn New
At the focus groups proposals to provide commuter and recreational cycle facilities was drawn up by the consultants. Bicycle NSW prepared a detailed response to the proposals which is available here.
At the final planned meeting of the Focus Groups the final proposal contained only a recreational cycle path on the southern side of Epping Road. There were no facilities proposed for commuting cyclists. This is quite an unacceptable design and this was addressed in a further submission into the process.
The Epping Road corridor is of critical importance to cyclists in Northern Sydney as it creates a way to cycle easily from the Epping and Ryde areas to the North Shore and North Sydney areas. When heading east the Lane Cove River can only be crossed at Fullers Bridge or Epping Road. Of these the Epping Road corridor provides the most direct route and the best grades. It also provides the best option for creation of a high quality regional cycleway.
To support this proposal please write urgently to the Minister for Roads and Transport at Parliament House Sydney and give your reasons why a regional cycleway should be built.
Last update: 12/09/2008 — Copyright © 2005