Another key milestone has been achieved on the Rankin Park to Jesmond section of the Newcastle Inner City Bypass with the installation of a steel arch pedestrian bridge at the northern interchange. Once the interchange at Jesmond opens to traffic, this new bridge will connect shared paths on Newcastle Road and Illoura Street, providing pedestrians and cyclists an uninterrupted journey over the on- and off-ramps and under the bypass. Transport for NSW Regional Director North Anna Zycki said the installation was carried out overnight. “A 400-tonne crane lifted the steel bridge into place, with the installation completed in just a few hours,” Ms Zycki said.” “The pedestrian and cyclist bridge installation follows other significant recent progress at the northern interchange”. “May saw the opening of the permanent right-hand turn for motorists travelling west on Newcastle Road onto the northern lanes of the bypass towards University Drive. This has removed one of the sets of traffic lights, helping improve traffic flow in the area as construction continues”. “Work on the southern interchange for the project has also progressed significantly, with the recent shift of the Lookout Road and McCaffrey Drive intersection onto the new bridge structure. “This has seen traffic switched to the new signalised intersection and use of what will be the final northbound off-ramp until the bypass is open to traffic.” “The final section of the Newcastle Inner City Bypass from Rankin Park to Jesmond is just part of a massive package of road projects across the Hunter region. “Along with the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace, Hexham Straight Widening and Singleton Bypass, Hunter motorists can look forward to safer, more reliable journeys for all road users, and saving businesses time and money.” These changes can be seen by viewing fly-through videos on the design map at the project portal https://caportal.com.au/tfnsw/rankin-park-to-jesmond