Townsville City Council has begun work on a $3.8 million shared path project along Hugh and Gulliver streets.
Around 2.5 kilometres of 2.5-metre-wide shared path will be constructed along the converged streets, which connect Woolcock Street and Ross River Road.
The works will also include on-road bike lane line marking, new cycle and pedestrian ramps, concrete medians, 1.5-metre footpath sections, raised crossings at minor intersections and a signalised SMART pedestrian crossing near Wellington Street.
The Gulliver and Hugh Streets Active Transport Facilities Upgrade Project will connect three suburbs, making active transport safer and more accessible for thousands of people each day.
It is funded by the Townsville City Council and will be delivered in four stages:
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Palmerston Street to Ross River Road (eastern side) – now underway
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Ross River Road to Palmerston Street (western side)
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Palmerston Street to Woolcock Street (western side)
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Woolcock Street to Palmerston Street (eastern side)
Updates will be provided on the council's project page.
The project had been identified as a priority due to the area's high traffic volume, with around 16,000 vehicles travelling the roadway each day.
Townsville Mayor, Nick Dametto, said: "This busy stretch of road also experiences high pedestrian and cyclist numbers, which peak during morning and afternoon traffic as students from Pimlico State High School and TAFE Townsville campus travel to and from classes.
"The corridor has a combination of high-density residential properties and commercial premises that increase traffic demand in the area.
"Currently, cyclists mix with motorists on-road as there are only partially constructed footpaths and no dedicated cycle facility – this project will address this congestion and improve overall safety."
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