Wheels in Motion: Islington Cycleway Connects Community with Safer Streets

19 June 2025

newy.com.au – A major cycleway project has transformed Islington into a safer and more accessible space for cyclists and pedestrians. The $950,000 upgrade, jointly funded by the NSW Government and delivered by the City of Newcastle, now links key community hubs from Mayfield through to the city centre.

The centrepiece of the project is a new two-way cycleway along the northern side of Chinchen Street, running from Linden Street to just past the Styx Creek bridge. The route connects seamlessly with the existing shared path at Clyde Street’s traffic lights and includes a new raised crossing on Hubbard Street, improving safety at John Hooker Street for both foot and bike traffic.

Works have also enhanced school access, with a 150-metre shared path skirting Islington Public School and new pram ramps, a refurbished school driveway and a widened southern footpath along Chinchen Street. The upgrades plug several longstanding gaps in Newcastle’s active transport network.

With the full 665-metre link now in place, riders can enjoy a protected corridor from Scholey Street in Mayfield, past Islington Park and the TAFE campus in Tighes Hill, through to the city. Newcastle State MP Tim Crakanthorp, who pledged the project funding during his election campaign, hailed the cycleway as a game-changer for families and students.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge said it is a vital step in making the city more cycle-friendly. “Better connections, safer crossings and thoughtful design are exactly what we need to encourage more people to walk or ride,” he said. “It’s about creating a Newcastle that’s easier and greener to move around.”