Parkway Avenue roundabout upgrades near Newcastle High to wrap up by early February

newy.com.au – City of Newcastle says a $2.1 million cycling and road safety upgrade on Parkway Avenue in Hamilton South will be finished by early February, ahead of the new school year.

The project targets two roundabouts at Smith Street and National Park Street and includes new on-road cycle lanes, with council saying the changes respond to a recent crash history at the intersections.

Council’s Executive Manager of Transport and Regulation Ryan Tranter said Parkway Avenue was an important route linking schools, sportsgrounds, shopping centres and beaches, and the works were designed to “cater for everyone who travels through the area”.

Upgrades include kerb realignment, six speed bumps, new shared-path crossings and off-road cyclist bypasses at each roundabout, aimed at improving comfort and safety for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.

“We’ve made it safer for all users by slowing traffic on approach to the roundabouts, providing off-road cyclist bypasses at each roundabout, as well as designated on-road cycle lanes with a clear buffer to parked vehicles,” Tranter said.

He said the changes would “help to address the conditions which have led to eight crashes in the past five years at these two roundabouts, with the majority involving cyclists”, and noted the design had been developed with Newcastle High School’s transport management planning in mind.

The Australian Government has contributed $469,000 through the Black Spots Program, administered by Transport for NSW, with City of Newcastle funding additional elements including eight shared-path cyclist roundabout bypasses and two on-road cycle lanes.

Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon said the work would make it “safer and easier for people of all ages to walk, ride and connect with their neighbourhood”, arguing that separating bikes from traffic and improving visibility helped protect cyclists, pedestrians and drivers.

Newcastle Cycleways Movement president Nev Jones said the layout offered different options for riders, with “shared paths and crossings […] there for less confident riders, while experienced cyclists can continue through the roundabout on-road by claiming the lane”.

Council said the project aligns with its On Our Bikes Cycling Plan (2021–2030) and is intended to support future cycleway links, with final line marking, signage and landscaping due to be completed by early February.