The Rankin Park to Jesmond section of the Newcastle Inner City Bypass will provide traffic relief to the surrounding road network, in particular the existing route of Lookout Road, Croudace Street and Newcastle Road, which is currently used by about 40,000 to 60,000 vehicles each day. The new bypass will remove up to 30,000 vehicles each day from this route.

When completed, motorists travelling north-south on the new section of bypass would avoid up to 11 sets of traffic lights along the existing route, which is expected to reduce travel times by up to 80 per cent during the morning and afternoon peaks.

Connectivity for the John Hunter Hospital precinct will be improved with a full interchange on the bypass providing access for the hospital from the north and south. This will help to improve access for staff, patients and visitors travelling to the hospital precinct.

Other key benefits include:

• Safety will be improved on the surrounding road network with crashes predicted to reduce by 32 per cent.
• Additional connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists will help to support active transport across the Newcastle region.

The project would involve building a 3.4 kilometre four-lane divided road including:

• a northern interchange at Newcastle Road
• an interchange providing access to John Hunter Hospital precinct
• a southern interchange at Lookout Road
• structures provided along the bypass to improve connectivity in the bushland for people and animals
• off-road provisions for pedestrians and cyclists including a shared path bridge over Newcastle Road at Jesmond.

A concept design and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was developed to identify potential environmental, social and economic impact during construction and operation. The concept design was completed in March 2018. The Department of Planning and Environment placed the EIS on public exhibition between 16 November and 16 December 2016.

The Submissions and Preferred Infrastructure Report (SPIR) was prepared following public exhibition of the EIS to address all issues raised and provide responses. The SPIR was lodged with the Department of Planning & Environment on 28 June 2018.

The project received environmental approval from the Minister for Planning on 15 February 2019. More information is available in our Project Documents.

EIS modification proposal approval

Transport for NSW submitted a modification proposal for the Rankin Park to Jesmond project which was displayed by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) in June last year for feedback from the community, stakeholders and government agencies.

The proposal sought permission to use four additional compound sites identified outside the existing project area at Cardiff Heights, Kotara, Shortland and New Lambton. The additional compound sites were sought after a previously identified and approved site within the project area adjacent to John Hunter Hospital was significantly reduced in usable size.

The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) has approved the modification proposal to use three of the additional compound sites, with some new conditions.

In September 2022, Transport determined the additional sites on Peatties Road at Garden Suburb and Main Road/Marshall Street at Cardiff Heights will no longer be used for the project.

Following further consideration Transport and Fulton Hogan has selected a site for the project’s main offices and compound site. The site is located behind the Mater Hospital at Waratah on the old water reservoir site accessed via Platt Street.

The main compound site will be operating from November 2022 until completion of the project.

We will continue to keep the community and key stakeholders informed as work progresses for the Rankin Park to Jesmond bypass project. Major construction work is scheduled to start later in 2022 and the bypass is expected to open to traffic in 2025.