Missing links – Gadigal Reserve & Parramatta Rd underpass
What are we doing in this area?
The upgrades to Gadigal Reserve in Summer Hill include:
- Creation of new 3.5m wide shared path
- Upgraded landscaping and ecological restoration
- Installation of new bat-friendly smart path lights
- New nature play area
- Installation of public artworks
- Installation of rest stop
- Wayfinding signage
- New shared path bridge across Hawthorne Canal
- New tunnel under Longport Street
- Microbat protective tunnel design
When are we doing this?
Construction in the Gadigal Reserve area around Parramatta Road and Longport Street commenced in January 2024 and is anticipated to be completed in 2025.
Gadigal Reserve closure
In order to complete these upgrades, Gadigal Reserve including the dog park and the parking lot are closed during construction. Detours and traffic management are in place.
A new fenced off-leash dog park has opened on the western side of Lewisham West light rail station, which will be easily accessible via the GreenWay path. Alternative off-leash dog parks can be found on council’s website: innerwest.nsw.gov.au/live/active-inner-west
Construction access through Hawthorne Canal via Marion Street
Construction access to complete the upgrades, is through the Hawthorne Canal via the Marion Street ramp. The footbridge over Hawthorne Canal (near the Lords Road pedestrian tunnel in Leichhardt) has been temporarily removed from October 2024 during the works to allow for construction access height requirements and is scheduled to be re-installed in late October 2025.
Images
Artist impression - Gadigal Reserve nature play area:
Artist impression - Longport Street tunnel and bat screen, looking south from Gadigal Reserve towards Longport Street:
Artist impression - Cantilevered path under Parramatta Road and along Hawthorne Canal:
Progress on the bat-friendly tunnel under Longport Street, connecting Gadigal Reserve with Lewisham West:
Progress on the elevated pathway under heritage Whipple truss bridge, looking south from the new tunnel under Longport Street:
Progress on the raised shared path from the new nature play area to the Longport Street tunnel; this includes a new bridge over the canal:
Concrete path near the nature play area:
Progress on the nature play area; this is a part of the artwork, Ngaraora, by Jasmine Sarin:
The cantilevered shared path over the Hawthorne Canal is progressing well. The contactor has to work with the tides and water levels within the canal:
Under the Battle Bridge, Parramatta Road; removing a redundant pipe to create the required head height:
Connection from cantilevered path to Gadigal Reserve:
Delivery of reinforced steel for the piles that support the shared boardwalk:
Footbridge over Hawthorne Canal is being lifted to allow for construction site access through the canal from Marion Street, Leichhardt. The footbridge has been upgraded and restored, and is now open to the public again.
Gadigal Reserve construction fencing has been installed for safe construction; ecological and bush care areas are fenced off from the construction site with dust and site run-off mitigation measures in place:
GreenWay construction updates
Works in progress
Upcoming works
Completed works