May 2011. DIER has released
concept plans for the upgrade of South Arm Hwy and has commenced detailed planning. The road is to be upgraded to 2 lanes in each direction with stage one focused on the area around the intersection at Pass Rd and Tollard Drive with Rokeby Rd. A concrete multi-use path is included in the plans to replace the existing hotmix path between Buckingham Drive, Howrah and Morrisby St, Rokeby.
Cycling South and Bicycle Tasmania met with DIER officers in May 2011 to review the plans. The missing section of cycleway in front of the Howrah Gardens centre is included in the plans for stage two of the road upgrade but DIER indicated it will be the responsibility of Clarence City Council to upgrade the rough and bumpy hotmix path between Oceana Drive and the Howrah Gardens Centre. The plans also indicate a multi-user path along Pass Rd to connect between Glebe Hill Estate and the cycleway along Rokeby Rd.
Issues identified by Cycling South and Bicycle Tasmania at the meeting include:
- The need to include sealed shoulders of adequate width and clearances from fixed objects (such as guard rails) to accommodate the high intensity road cyclists who will continue using the roadway along Rokeby Rd.
- Continuation of the multi-user path beyond Morrisby St along Grange Rd West (rather than requiring path users to transition to the service road or narrow footpath)
We will meet with DIER again once the planning progresses.
Feb 2011. The Clarence Bicycle Advisory Committee did a ride in January to look at what was required to provide for cyclists using this corridor. The committee would like to see the existing Howrah to Rokeby cycleway upgraded, including the missing section by the Howrah Garden Centre.
Sealed shoulders on the upgraded Rokeby Rd is desired for commuting and training cyclists and a multi-user path alongside to cater for families on bikes, people walking or pushing prams.
There is future opportunity for a multi-user path to follow a route along Tollard Drive to Nielson Park where there is public land and open space, linking up to the school, health centre, community centre and skate park and rejoin South Arm Hwy near Droughty Point Rd. This route is no less direct or hilly than using the road corridor and much of it already exists as a narrow footpath.
Clarence Plains Transport Study
April 07. GHD Consultants have been engaged by DIER to look at options for improving traffic movements around Rokeby and Clarendon Vale. CyclingSouth attended a briefing for community representatives and gave feedback on a preferred option which would best serve cycling movements through the area. We recommended an upgraded Rokeby Rd with designated bike lanes and signalisation at intersections. See
Feedback to view CyclingSouth’s submission to GHD.
Shoreline to Howrah section
28 May 07. The Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources (DIER) has released plans for duplicating South Arm Hwy between Shoreline roundabout and Merindah St. The project includes connecting Oceana Dve to South Arm Hwy by elevating the road and installing a signalised intersection. Members of the public can view the plans at Clarence Council offices until 15 June 2007 or as a pdf on the Department of Transport website
http://www.transport.tas.gov.auCyclingSouth’s position can be viewed below.
CyclingSouth has some concerns with the plans as they don’t maximise opportunities to improve conditions for cyclists along South Arm Hwy, an important cycling route linking Rokeby, Lauderdale and places beyond to Bellerive, Mornington and Tasman Bridge. CyclingSouth would like to see:
Priority for cycle traffic using the Howrah-Rokeby Cycleway at Oceana Dve intersection. A tunnel underneath an elevated Oceana Dve is deemed to be unfeasible by DIER so cyclists will be diverted up to the signalised intersection. CyclingSouth wants to see a green bicycle lantern installed at the crossing which automatically changes to green when the signals turn green for motor vehicles, rather than cyclists being required to press a button and wait for the bicycle lantern to activate. This treatment is used on cycleways in other parts of Australia without incident and would maintain the level of service for cyclists.
Sealed shoulders on South Arm Hwy from Shoreline Roundabout to Oceana Dve. The plans show very generous vehicle lane widths but no sealed shoulder on South Arm Hwy between Shoreline Roundabout and Oceana Drive. The distance between the kerbs on the new section of road is 7.9m and we believe that a sealed shoulder can be installed alongside 3.2m wide travel lanes. These widths are within design guidelines. This would increase the safety of the road for all road users, not just cyclists, and provide the first step in a long-term goal of improving this important cycle commuter route on South Arm Hwy all the way to Lauderdale. The plans already include a 2.0m wide sealed shoulder east of the Oceana Dve intersection which can provide space for bike lanes in the future.
- Access to Clarence St for westbound cyclists using South Arm Hwy. For cyclists using the roadway and heading towards Bellerive, a gap in the guard rail is required to allow them to leave the carriageway to access Clarence St. Although a shared path will be constructed between Oceana Dve and Clarence St, some cyclists will prefer to remain on the roadway to avoid pedestrians, other path users and obstacles such as bus stops. An opening in the guard rail would accommodate this. The plans propose to close the current gap in the guard rail.
Please forward your comments to the Minister by Friday 15 June to ensure that the interests of cyclists are included in this major road project.
