Roads Minister Melinda Pavey said there were “some big challenges” to the project but she expected the government to be in a position to release a final plan for improved access,and the means by which it would be funded,within the next two years.
“The access[to the bridge] could be better but the positive side of that is there are still a lot of cyclists using it,” she said.
About 2000 cyclists traverse the 86-year-old bridge every day,making it one of Sydney's busiest cycling routes. However,the lack of ramp access at the north end of the famed coathanger has long frustrated cyclists.
The government has decided to prioritise construction of lifts at either end of the bridge,the cost of which has blown out to about $15 million,from $10 million.
Mrs Pavey announced on Wednesday that construction of a lift at the bridge's southern end would be completed by October,and another at the northern end by the end of this year. The latter was originally due to becompleted by late last year but had thrown up “more challenges” than expected.
“It has been a project that has grown in cost but it's a cost that's worth it – a cost that's going to ensure accessibility to all people across this bridge,” Mrs Pavey said.