UPDATE 11/2/26: The designers for the northern access road have listened to concerns about directing the Intercity Cycleway through an underpass and are now proposing an open bridge over the cycleway.
The state government is planning a new road to Hobart’s port that will arch over the Intercity Cycleway at McVilly Drive.
The new road will also be used to access the proposed Macquarie Point Stadium precinct before continuing on to the Hobart Port.
During big events it’s likely the current port access, Evans Street, will be overwhelmed by people walking so this new road will provide alternative access.
The planned route will start at the current McVilly Drive underpass but instead of the road dipping down to the Cycleway and car park as it currently does, it will stay elevated. The Cycleway will be diverted onto the rail corridor just before its current entrance and the new road will pass over the top of it and the road to the shipyards before dropping back down to the railway corridor, winding around the back of the stadium precinct to reach the port.
The government is asking people whether they have got the design right for pathway users.
We’ve provided feedback that the path under the new bridge should provide year-round all-weather access and feels safe for all users at all times.
Path connections should be direct and provide clear, prioritised routes for riders to the Queens Domain, through the stadium precinct and on to the Tasman Highway path.
The reduced use of Evans Street by port traffic should herald a change to the traffic signals which prioritise left-turning traffic off Davey Street over shared path users.
We’ve suggested the informal shortcut people use to get from the Cycleway up to the McVilly Drive path is formalised as part of the works. This could also provide a detour for path users when construction of the new road is underway.
The designs have already been submitted to the Parliament’s Public Works Committee which will hold a hearing into the project on Thursday 12 February.
Public consultation is open until 22 February and you can make your comments via the online map at https://engage.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/macquarie-point or email majortransportprojects@stategrowth.tas.gov.au
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