Hunter Expressway

newie · Postby **newie** » Thu Mar 06, 2014 2:28 pm

So apparently the new Hunter Expressway is to open on 22nd March.
Does anyone know what/if there has been any consideration for cyclists in the design?
The website and brochure make no mention of it.
Shame they didn't insist on a solution like the M7 cycleway down in Sydney during the initial stages.

gorilla monsoon · Postby **gorilla monsoon** » Thu Mar 06, 2014 3:49 pm

Sorry Newie, can't help you although I heard on radio this morning that the day before it opens they are going to let people walk it (and maybe cycle it?) so you could go take a look.

Probably all a bit academic at this stage if there is no consideration for riders.

wellington_street · Postby **wellington_street** » Fri Mar 07, 2014 2:08 pm

It will be standard on-freeway cycling like the F3 (sorry, M1) is.

phineas · Postby **phineas** » Fri Mar 07, 2014 5:05 pm

gorilla monsoon wrote:I heard on radio this morning that the day before it opens they are going to let people walk it (and maybe cycle it?) so you could go take a look.

I think heard that you can cycle along it between 8am and 1pm on the 22nd, then it opens to cars sometime after 1pm that day.

I think I'll go have a look that morning, as if they've not added a cycleway, it'll be the only time I'm brave enough to ride along there!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

wellington_street · Postby **wellington_street** » Fri Mar 07, 2014 5:21 pm

The bike ride is from Kurri interchange (Cessnock Road) eastward for about 6km, I don't think you're allowed on the whole thing

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/21318 ... 22/?cs=305" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Strawburger · Postby **Strawburger** » Fri Mar 07, 2014 8:09 pm

Hope you enjoy the ride, it's one of mine

I pushed a fair bit on cycling issues and was consulted on some of the tricky areas.

bychosis · Postby **bychosis** » Fri Mar 07, 2014 9:34 pm

The biggest consideration for cyclists is that once the bike is loaded in the car you'll be able to get to your destination to ride so much sooner.

newie · Postby **newie** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 7:43 pm

Strawburger wrote:Hope you enjoy the ride, it's one of mine

I pushed a fair bit on cycling issues and was consulted on some of the tricky areas.

Can you elaborate?

From the photos I have seen there looks to be a decent breakdown lane. Wonder if it disappears over any bridges. From what I can remember there doesn't seem to be any specific provision for cyclists around where it start, where the traffic will be peeling off to go down to Sydney. It could be a bit tricky.

Slightly related, when I was driving along the new bypass at Sandgate there looked to be works off to the side that could have been a bike path under construction. Anyone know?

Strawburger · Postby **Strawburger** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:51 pm

newie wrote:
Strawburger wrote:Hope you enjoy the ride, it's one of mine

I pushed a fair bit on cycling issues and was consulted on some of the tricky areas.
Can you elaborate?

From the photos I have seen there looks to be a decent breakdown lane. Wonder if it disappears over any bridges.

No, should be same width or very similar 3m shoulder, 2-2.5 on the bridges

newie wrote:
From what I can remember there doesn't seem to be any specific provision for cyclists around where it start, where the traffic will be peeling off to go down to Sydney. It could be a bit tricky.

There is a seperate bike path linking the two. At least, that was what was designed.

newie wrote: Slightly related, when I was driving along the new bypass at Sandgate there looked to be works off to the side that could have been a bike path under construction. Anyone know?

Dunno that one

Strawburger · Postby **Strawburger** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:57 pm

It looks like it's has been tacked on the hunter expressway alliance

Check this out for more info

http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/ ... er_bypass/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

bychosis · Postby **bychosis** » Wed Sep 03, 2014 3:51 pm

This one's been open for a while now, has anyone ridden it? What is the traffic and bike space (won't call it a lane) like?

I'm looking at doing some longer road rides than the Fernleigh and if this could provide some distance with a nice wide shoulder.

queequeg · Postby **queequeg** » Wed Sep 03, 2014 7:19 pm

I drive on it the week after it opened. The shoulder is nice and wide and marked for bicycles. I saw quite a few cyclists out on it and it looks like a nice ride. The lovedale exit puts you right into wine country, only a few minutes from the Wandin Valley Estate

Scarfy96 · Postby **Scarfy96** » Thu Sep 04, 2014 9:41 am

I rode it a couple of weeks before it opened, was excellent with no cars

Have ridden it once since but have friends that ride it regularly, it is well designed and works well for bicycles. Biggest thing is the verge is wide enough to ride 3 or 4 abreast if you want in most places and the bridges are wide so the verge doesn't narrow to nothing to cross them which is key IMO. Good ride. Do it.

bychosis · Postby **bychosis** » Thu Sep 04, 2014 9:55 am

Thanks, looks like I'll aim for it soon. Lately I've ridden a max of 6km to work and back a couple of times a week so might have to build up first.

Scarfy96 · Postby **Scarfy96** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 10:20 am

LOL - I can relate to that, similar commute distance for me but there are a couple of decent climbs in it (lookout rd) and on flatbar with loaded panniers I figure that it is worth a few more km's than on a road bike

gorilla monsoon · Postby **gorilla monsoon** » Thu Sep 11, 2014 5:34 pm

drove up there today as far as the Kurri Kurri turnoff. Lovely wide shoulders marked as bike lanes and not a reall lot of traffic. Might have to go up there for a pedal myself.

gretaboy · Postby **gretaboy** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 7:34 am

I ride the expressway regularly. It has wonderful wide shoulders and they dont have too much crap on them either.

Overall cars and trucks are really considerate towards me, if they can the trucks in the majority move into the nexy lane when they pass me, I always try and acknowledge this act of consideration.

I believe it is a very safe, but boring

, ride. If you see a recumbent trike on it then that will most likely be me