Five options put for bike path

Gosford Council officers have recommended that five options for a footpath-cycleway linking Brisbane Water Dr with Brick Wharf Rd be put on public exhibition.

The recommendation includes an option for a public meeting.

Officers have also recommended that a report be made to council on the outcomes of the public exhibition recommending a preferred route for a shared footpath-cycleway through the Woy Woy CBD.

The proposal was considered at a council strategy policy workshop held on February 21.

A report to council stated that it was proposed "to develop the link through Woy Woy CBD between Brisbane Water Dr and the existing section of shared footpath-cycleway in Brick Wharf Rd, Woy Woy, which is part of the overall shared footpath-cycleway which when completed will extend through Woy Woy past the Peninsula Leisure Centre and proceed southerly to Umina Beach and Ettalong Beach".

The five options "generally" follow the northern leg of The Boulevarde past the Woy Woy Public Wharf and link with the shared footpath-cycleway already built on the northern side of Brick Wharf Rd.

Option one is a proposed shared footpath, which would use the existing footpath on the northern side.

It would follow the northern footpath alignment along The Boulevarde waterfront and then along the northern footpath of Brick Wharf Rd to connect up with the existing footpath/cycleway.

Option two would involve a half road closure on The Boulevarde.

It would restrict vehicular traffic in the waterfront leg of The Boulevarde to one-way flow towards Brisbane Water Dr, and use three metres of the existing road carriageway as a shared footpath-cycleway.

A median strip would be provided to separate the two flows.

A shared footpath-cycleway would be provided along the northern footpath of Brick Wharf Rd to connect up with the existing footpath-cycleway.

Option three would be a proposed shard footpath using the existing footpath on the south side.

The shared footpath-cycleway would cross The Boulevarde near the northern Brisbane Water Dr intersection and follow the southern footpath alignment of The Boulevarde to Brick Wharf Rd.

The shared footpath-cycleway would then cross The Boulevarde and continue along the northern footpath of Brick Wharf Rd to connect up with the existing footpath-cycleway.

Option four also involves a proposed shared footpath with a full road closure.

It would close the northern arm of The Boulevarde leaving access available only to essential services and deliveries.

This option proposes to extend the public parkland all the way to the waterfront.

The shared footpath-cycleway would pass through the park area to the northern footpath in Brick Wharf Rd.

A shared footpath-cycleway would be provided along the northern footpath of Brick Wharf Rd to connect up with the existing footpath-cycleway.

Option five would be a proposed shared footpath-cycleway with a shared zone for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles.

The northern arm of The Boulevarde would be remodelled to provide a pedestrian and vehicular shared zone over the existing road area.

The shared footpath-cycleway would follow approximately the southern footpath alignment of The Boulevarde to Brick Wharf Rd and connect up with the existing footpath-cycleway.

The report stated that it was anticipated that in the long term council would upgrade both the public and commercial wharves to improve their access and capacity.

"These works would form part of an overall foreshore upgrade for the Woy Woy CBD area," the report stated.

Council officers have also recommended that an overall plan for the upgrade of the area adjoining the northern leg of The Boulevarde including the jetties and wharves be prepared for council consideration.

Council agenda SF.4, May 2