Project update – December 2024
The T-way is open and it’s a terrific new pedestrian and cyclist link for our community.
Pedestrians and cyclists can now enjoy boardwalks, priority crossings, a new 75-metre-long bridge, and dedicated walking and cycling paths with the completion of the North-West T-way Paths project through Constitution Hill.
New paths for walking and cycling, have removed three of the last four on-road sections between Parramatta and Windsor, making the route much easier and safer.
Around 90 per cent of the re-alignment has separated paths that are complemented by a new 5-metre-wide bridge over Toongabbie Creek that has room for pedestrians and cyclist, and space for people to stop and enjoy the view.
About 100,00 pedestrians and 30,000 cyclists use the T-way Path in Parramatta each year, and it is expected to attract more residents and visitors as word spreads of the new safer, better integrated and more enjoyable route.
The T-Way also provides a critical connection for the local community to Toongabbie Public School and the Westmead Hospitals.
The T-way Paths project is part of Council’s plans to improve safety on the North-West T-way path to Windsor and link it a new proposed major pedestrian and cyclist spine between Toongabbie and Westmead. Together they will provide easier connections to train stations, schools, parks, other regional walking and cycling paths, Parramatta Park and the CBD.
Key North-West T-way Paths project works included:
- A 5m wide new bridge over Toongabbie Creek.
- A separate bike path on the eastern side of Ferndale Close between Old Windsor Road and Constitution Road.
- A shared path on the:
- Eastern side of Ferndale Close south of Constitution Road
- Eastern side of Harris Road
- Northern side of Briens Road west of Mons Road.
- Council reserves connecting Harris Road with Briens Road and Chetwyn Place.
- Pedestrian and cyclist priority crossings on the eastern side of:
- Ferndale Close at Doig Street and Tanderagee Street
- Harris Street at Portadown Road
Please note
The park at Toongabbie Creek is still closed to allow the new grass and planting to establish. It will be opened to the public soon.
For information on the background of this project, please see Participate Parramatta.
Separate paths have the greatest appeal
The T-way project responds to a strong community preference for separate paths for pedestrians and cyclists, or wider paths with room to pass comfortably if the path needs to be shared.
More pedestrian and cyclist paths on the way
The T-way is one of 21 pedestrian and cyclist connections delivered by City of Parramatta in 2024.
Almost 20 kilometres of new pedestrian and cyclist paths are set to be delivered in the next three years as part of the City’s updated Bike Plan.
The Bike Plan reflects the City of Parramatta’s vision to see more people walking or riding as their preferred way to get around. Active transport is not only great for the health of our communities but also for reducing traffic congestion, emissions, and transport costs.
Funding
The T-way project is co-funded by City of Parramatta and a $10.1 million investment from the NSW Government’s Get NSW Active Program to provide the community with an improved, safer and more scenic route when walking or cycling from Windsor to Parramatta.
The Get NSW Active program provides councils with grants to deliver projects that encourage more people to walk or bike ride as part of their everyday travel.
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Work is progressing well on the T-Way re-alignment, delivering improved paths through Constitution Hill and Northmead to provide our community with safer active transport options.
The beams, deck and 25m approach ramps either side of the bridge, have all been installed on the new 25m bridge which spans over Toongabbie Creek. Handrails and finishing touches are being delivered.
This functional bridge was designed with a generous width to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists and to minimise any superstructure allowing people to be on the deck and enjoy the views up and down the creek. The alignment of the bridge was determined based on retaining the highest value trees on Toongabbie Creek.
A majority of the works on the Ferndale Close separated bike path and priority crossings are almost complete, with line-marking to be installed shortly and lighting upgrades underway.
In Harris Road, the shared path is finished, and the boardwalk will be installed over the coming months to complete the works outside Toongabbie East Public School.
Once complete, the park at Toongabbie Creek will be restored and re-opened to the public.
The T-Way project is expected to open later this year.
T-Way project - Windsor to Westmead
Council’s vision for the T-Way project is to provide our community with safer active transport options on the route from Windsor to Parramatta.
The T-Way cycleway is a 30 km off-road shared path which is used by approximately 4,000 cyclists and 8,000 pedestrians a month.
The current alignment through Constitution Hill and Northmead includes three of the last four on-road sections: a slow 3-stage crossing of the Cumberland Highway; and a concentration of cyclist crashes along Briens Road.
The upgrade proposal outlines a two-stage program with a number of benefits including separating cyclists and traffic, and separating cyclists and pedestrians where space allows.
Following community consultation in August 2021, detailed design work, and the provision of 100% of funding by the NSW Government under its Get NSW Active Program in 2022, construction of the project began in November 2023.
The current T-Way works program is focussed on delivering a new 25m bridge over Toongabbie Creek, with 25m approach ramps on each side, along with improved paths through Constitution Hill and Northmead. The installation of lighting and landscaping also feature in the concept design.
Key features include a re-alignment of the T-Way cycleway to:
- Separate cyclists and traffic
- Separate cyclists and pedestrians where space allows
- Introduce new priority crossings of side streets
- Avoid a slow, three (3) stage crossing of the Cumberland Highway
- Better integrate paths into the community with a connection to the entrance of Toongabbie East Public School
- Connect into the new Milson Park path and a future eastern extension behind Westmead Hospital
- The project removes three of the last four of the on-road sections in the 30km of off-road shared path from Windsor to Parramatta with upgrades designed to make the route less hilly and avoid commercial driveways.
Stages of work
- Stage 1 of the works includes construction of a cycleway between Harris Road and Briens Road, including a shared pedestrian and cyclist bridge over Toongabbie Creek, Constitution Hill, with improved safety controls such as traffic lights and line markings.
- Stage 2 includes a cycleway between Harris Road and Ferndale Close, Constitution Hill, to safely separate pedestrians and cyclist. This stage also includes the upgrade of the intersection at Cumberland Highway and Ferndale Close and construction of a shared cycleway connecting to Toongabbie East Public School.
Contact the project team
For more information on the T-Way project, please email TransportPlanning@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au or call Council’s Customer Contact Centre on 1300 617 058 and ask for the T-Way project team.
This $10 million pedestrian and cyclist pathway improvement project is proudly funded by the NSW Government under its Get NSW Active Program.