City Route - Sullivans Cove & Hobart Waterfront

The Hobart Waterfront is extremely important to the Hobart Bike Network. The Intercity Cycleway from the northern suburbs will eventually connect through to Salamanca and PW1 with a new alignment proposed as part of the Macquarie Point redevelopment. The Sandy Bay Road cycleway and proposed Battery Point Walkway will connect from the south (shown as the red route on the bike network map). A desired link to the CBD from the waterfront has been identified in the Hobart Bike Plan also.

Morrison St WALKING & CYCLING IMPROVEMENTS

June 2016. Good progress has been made on widening the footpath along the waterfront, with the first stage expected to be complete in time for Dark MoFo on 10 June 2016.

Waterfront path June2016

Apr 2016. Work has commenced on the next stage of a widened footpath between Brooke St Pier and PW1. Work is expected to be completed by June. The works will provide more space for people to walk and cycle on the footpath, while road cyclists will have a simplified and traffic-calmed road environment with the westbound lanes being reduced from 2 to 1. See Hobart Council website for more information and to see the latest plans.

Sept 2015. At the HCC Infrastructure meeting held on 23 September the design for widened footpaths with shared space for cycling, along with traffic calmed road environment suitable for road cyclists was considered.

It is expected the first stage will commence after summer 2016 and finish in time for Dark MOFO in June 2016. The second stage will start in July 2016 and be finalised in October 2016. It is anticipated the first stage of works will be the river side of Morrison Street.

July 2015. Council has released plans for the next stage of walking and cycling improvements along the waterfront. The proposed works include widening the footpath along the water side of Morrison St to complete the last section between Brooke St pier and PW1 forecourt. This will involve the removal of 3 car parking spots and a southbound travel lane. The existing narrow footpath is woefully inadequate for the volume of pedestrian traffic and the new widened footpath area will make it possible for families to ride to Salamanca, while the traffic-calmed road environment will make it better for road cyclists moving through the area.

Council are inviting feedback from the public and it's important they hear from people who think the designs will improve this popular area.

Diagram stage 2 Morrison at Brooke to PW1

June 2015. Work is almost complete on the shared pathway extension from Mawson Place to Brooke St Pier. The photos show the new smooth footpath alongside the buildings which replaced the badly tree-root damaged path. There is also a wider shared space to improve cycling access to Salamanca for children and other riders who are uncomfortable using the roadway.

MorrisonSt before afterJune2015

Apr 2015. Work has commenced on a new shared pathway along Morrison St that will make it easier to walk and bike through the area. The modified design has an improved crossing treatment at Brooke St. The 'one-way out only' arrangement for motor vehicles using Brooke St has provided more space for the pathway and a safer, shorter crossing distance. The original design had an awkward dog-leg at the crossing (see original diagram below). Post Street will also be closed to motor vehicle traffic, eliminating a potential conflict point on the shared path. Full plans can be viewed on the Hobart City Council website.

Work is expected to be complete in early June. The design of the last incomplete section between Brooke St and PW1 will be underway shortly.

Dec 2013. A report prepared for the HCC Infrastructure Services meeting on 10 Dec 2013 outlined the results of the traffic trial where Morrison St was reduced to one lane of motor vehicle traffic in both directions. The report found there was no significant impact on Morrison St traffic or the surrounding road network if Morrison St is reduced to one lane in each direction and recommended the footpath be upgraded along Morrison St and the cycleway constructed alongside. Further consultation is recommended for the next section between Brooke St and Murray St where 3 parking spots are proposed to be removed to accommodate better access for people walking or riding in the area (see photo).

Aug 2013. The Intercity Cycleway route currently ends at Mawson Place on the waterfront, just a couple of hundred metres short of Salamanca. A rough, narrow footpath or riding on the road is the only option for reaching the cafes, shops and markets at Salamanca. Hobart City Council has prepared a design for extending the cycleway to Waterman's Dock at Murray St. The design includes a new footpath to replace the one badly tree root damaged and a separated bi-directional cycleway alongside. A copy of the plans can be viewed on the Hobart City Council website. In order to create space for the cycleway the traffic lanes on Morrison St will be narrowed with the wide parking lane on the NW side being reduced to a standard lane width. This will prevent motor vehicles using the parking lane as a second travel lane. Impacts on traffic movement through the area will be monitored but there will be no reduction in traffic lanes at the traffic signals so the same number of motor vehicles should get through on green phase of the traffic lights.

Cycleway link to Salamanca delayed

April 2013. At the Hobart City Council Infrastructure Services Meeting on 27 March the extension of the Intercity Cycleway between Mawson Place and PW1 along Morrison St was considered. See Agenda 27 March for background information. This is an important connection which would be fully separated from motor vehicles linking the northern suburbs to Salamanca. Counts taken between 7am-9am show it to be one of the busiest cycling routes in Hobart with 151 people counted on their bikes on Morrison St in the morning peak. Adjoining landowners and tenants were consulted and ten feedback forms were received in response, of which six supported the scheme and four did not. The removal of eight car parking spots of a total of 114 spaces in the Morrison St area was the main reason for not supporting the scheme. Council officers indicate in the report that 6 additional parking spots along with 16 extra motorbike parking spots could be created to replace the 8 that would be lost for the cycleway. The Aldermen decided a further report be prepared investigating the possibility of creating further car parking on the northern side of Morrison St and removing one lane of traffic instead.

CASTRAY ESPLANADE

Nov 2014. Council has used bollards and paint to designate space along Castray Esplanade for walking and cycling between CSIRO and PW1. This completes another gap in the arterial walking and cycling route around the Hobart waterfront and will eventually connect to a Battery Point Foreshore Walkway. The narrowed roadway provides a lower speed environment for high intensity riders to mix with motor vehicles while the shared path space will cater for novice and child riders. Although the materials used for the pathway are low cost and temporary, the space has been preserved so the path can be incorporated into future upgrades and beautification of the area.

Before and After photos showing the changes

Castray-before looking westW

Zero Davey Coffee ShoP

Dec 2011. A new coffee shop under construction at Zero Davey will have a servery and doorway directly onto the cycleway which has implications for creating conflict between coffee lovers and bike riders. See Bicycle Tasmania website for more>>

Princess Wharf 2 - Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) Development

Nov 2010. The Development Application has been lodged and plans can be viewed on the Sullivans Cove Waterfront Authority website. The application will be available for inspection, and more information about the proposal can be obtained at the SCWA offices, 5 Franklin Wharf, which are open between the hours of 9am and 4.30pm, weekdays or at other times by appointment.

Waterfront Cycleway & Muirs Car Park entry crossing

Feb 2011. Cycling South met with representatives from Sullivans Cove Waterfront Authority, DIER and TasPorts to review the waterfront area adjacent to Davey St and identify improvements. As a result the rough surface near Hunter St has been resealed with a smooth ashphalt surface. The No Entry sign at Hunter St has 'bicycles excepted' added and the sign will be repositioned to face the traffic along Hunter St. A white line will be marked across the the roadway adjacent to the No Entry sign to deter vehicles from entering the space used by walkers, bike riders and fishermen accessing their boats. A colour threshold treatment at the Muir car park entry has been approved by DIER to alert drivers, walkers and bike riders of a potential conflict point but works will be subject to available funding.

Oct 2010. Works to alter the entry at Muirs car park and relocate fisherman parking has been completed.

May 2010. The Sullivans Cove Waterfront Authority has indicated they will be commencing work in June to improve the waterfront area for people walking and cycling. Cycling South supports these improvements although we believe more could be done at the Muirs carpark entrance to improve the crossing location for walkers and cyclists. See the information below provided by the Sullivans Cove Waterfront Authority which outlines the works which are expected to be completed by late August 2010.

The Sullivans Cove Waterfront Authority and Tasports are working together to better manage Franklin Wharf and improve the quality of its public spaces, facilities and infrastructure. A number of safety concerns have been highlighted: especially the potential for conflict to occur between cyclists, pedestrians and motorists using the shared walk way adjacent to Davey Street, between Hunter and Morrison Streets.

The Franklin Wharf Improvements Project aims to improve the safety and amenity of this area for all users. Key actions include:

Relocating fishing fleet car parking.

Currently the commercial fishermen park along the Davey Street side of Victoria Dock, which is also a shared pedestrian and cycle path. This requires them to cross the path of pedestrians and cyclists in order to load and unload their vehicles. Under the new arrangements the fishermen’s parking will be relocated to Hunter Street and to the eastern side of Victoria Dock (behind Mures). Fisherman will however, still retain short-term access to the dock edges in order to load and unload.

Incorporating a new slip lane entry between Constitution and Victoria Docks.

Currently motorists feel pressured when turning left off Davey Street to enter the car park between Constitution and Victoria Docks. A new slip lane will be constructed to enable motorists to pull off Davey Street and slow down before turning into the dock car park. This will increase safety by reducing the potential for conflict between cyclists/pedestrians and vehicles.

Improvements to waterfront walking areas

Broadening and resurfacing of the walking path along Constitution Dock, adjacent to the fish punts, making alterations to the Elizabeth Pier Service Structure to incorporate seating and shelter, as well as to allow a generous waterside walkway. New and improved seating will be installed across Franklin Wharf.

Tree surrounds at Constitution Dock
Aug 06. Work has commenced on altering the tree surrounds at Constitution Dock to create more space for pedestrians and cyclists using this popular route along Davey St that connects to the Intercity Cycleway.