Sydney riders rejoiced as the Sydney Harbour Bridge's long-awaited cycleway ramp opened on Tuesday 6 January 2026.
The 170-metre, 3-metre-wide ramp creates a continuous north–south route across the Harbour Bridge with links into the city centre via Kent Street, out to the east via the Oxford Street Cycleway, and out to the west via the ANZAC Bridge.
Connecting to a new cycle route extending along Alfred Street South to Middlemiss Street at North Sydney, including new crossings on Alfred Street South and Lavender Street, the ramp fills a major gap in the city's bike infrastructure network.
Riders will no longer have to lug their bikes up the 55 stairs at the northern end of the Coathanger, which have discouraged older riders and those with heavier e-bikes from crossing the harbour.
The original vision for the bridge incorporated space for bicycles on the deck, but they were squeezed out by increasing motor traffic in 1962.
Plans for a ramp have been under consideration since 1999, with repeated tablings and revivals due to local opposition around Milsons Point.
The $39 million cycleway ramp will make it easier to access Sydney's sole cross-harbour bike route east of Iron Cove and bring in more traffic from the city's north–east.
The ramp is the latest in a string of recent bike infrastructure wins around Sydney, including the completion of the GreenWay and the opening of the Oxford Street Cycleway.
A rare addition to the heritage-listed Sydney Harbour Bridge, the ramp has been designed to fit its surrounds at Bradfield Park and Milsons Point Station.
The design incorporates granite sourced from Moruya, the same location the granite for the bridge's pylons came from.
Additionally, the ramp's 1,500 bronze balustrades are 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.
About 130,000 granite pavers have been used to create an artwork of intertwining eels by Aboriginal artists Jason Wing and Maddie Gibbs. The eels honour the connection to the area of the Gadigal and Cammeraygal people.
John Graham, Minister for Transport, said: "This ramp is a long-overdue improvement for cyclists while being an architecturally sensitive addition to [John] Bradfield's famous Coathanger.
"Bike traffic across the Harbour Bridge has surged in recent years and this ramp will unlock even more by delivering equality of access.
"I want to thank the team of designers, engineer and construction workers who have created a ramp that truly fits its stunning surrounds."
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