Changes to road layouts along the route have been proposed to improve safety for everyone. These changes include new signalised intersections and crossings, and safety improvements to existing intersections.
The four-lane section of Harewood Road is proposed to be reduced to two lanes to make space for cycling and on-street parking. This will also encourage lower speeds and make the road safer for turning drivers and pedestrians to cross. There will be additional lanes at some
intersections to maintain the traffic capacity along Harewood Road.
We’re signalising the Harewood/Wooldridge and Harewood/Gardiners/Breens intersections, partially signalising the Bishopdale roundabout and upgrading the Greers/Harewood intersection. These changes allow for the cycleway and help to improve safety overall.
We’re proposing to cul-de-sac Wilmot Street at Harewood Road, make Sails Street exit only onto Harewood Road and make Chapel Street entry only from Harewood Road. This will improve safety by reducing the amount of traffic turning across the cycleway.
A new signalised crossing outside Harewood Primary School and an extension to the school speed zone are proposed to improve school access.
Parking
We have tried to minimise the removal of on-street parking, however the competing demands for road space mean that some on-street parking will be removed along the route.
The design proposed was chosen to minimise the loss of on-street parking while maintaining safety for people cycling.
In areas of high parking demand we are proposing time-restricted parking on Harewood Road and nearby side streets to help ensure convenient parking is available.
Street lighting
Street lighting will be upgraded along the route to make the cycleway safer and more comfortable to use after dark. This will include the installation of new street lights where the current lighting levels do not meet the requirements for a cycleway or other changes to the road. This will require some new street lights to be installed, at locations to be confirmed in future stages of the project as the design progresses.
Trees
A total of 21 trees are proposed to be removed as part of this project in order to provide space for the cycleway and traffic lanes, improve visibility, and where the trees may pose a risk to people walking or cycling. A total of 56 new trees are proposed to be planted along the route, as shown in the detailed plans, however these are subject to confirming underground services at these locations.
The eucalyptus and oak trees in the Bishopdale Roundabout are proposed to be removed. A shared path is proposed within the roundabout island, and the eucalyptus trees can pose a risk to path users from falling branches. The risk of this is increased due to the removal of several adjacent trees to fit the new path and turning traffic lanes. The remaining oak trees need to be removed as they are interdependent on the surrounding trees, leaving them at risk of becoming unstable as other trees are removed.
Replacement trees are proposed in the roundabout, which include exotic species alongside the path to provide fast-growing shelter, with natives in other parts of the roundabout.