Cycling between Lake Macquarie and Newcastle just became a lot easier thanks to the completion of a landmark shared pathway from Speers Point to Glendale.

Newcastle Cycleways Movement president Sam Reich says it’s filled in a missing link that connects cyclists to “some very key places in the community”. 

“Not only is it providing an essential link, one that we have been barracking for, for a long time, but it is also built to a very high standard,” he said. 

“The surface is great and the width of the path is very good – we’re thrilled it has been completed.”

The 4.6-kilometre track starts at Speers Point Park, running parallel to Cockle Creek before following Lake Road and heading behind homes in Argenton to skirt Waratah Golf Club.

It creates an almost wholly off-road 18-kilometre route from Eleebana to the University of Newcastle and a 14.3-kilometre route from Booragul to the university.

Mr Reich believes the path will help people find alternatives to travelling places in their car. 

“There is no way that we can sustainably continue to favour motor vehicle traffic,” he said. 

“Aside from the environmental impacts there is simply not enough room, we need alternatives to jumping in the car for every little thing.” 

He adds the shared path is likely to be very popular within the community. 

“Judging from the traffic I saw on the track this morning it’s already being accepted quite well,” he explained. 

“It’s a very major route that connects Lake Macquarie to the University of Newcastle – it is already being utilised and it will be utilised more as the word gets around.” 

Eleebana resident Alex Dare is among the commuters who will use the new shared path to get to work at the university.

The 22-kilometre ride now takes him less than an hour, door-to-door.

“You used to have to ride along Lake Road, and with not much of a hard shoulder, all the cars and a bit of a dodgy road surface, it was pretty dangerous,” Mr Dare said.

“So to be able to come along the back, away from the traffic is fantastic.”

Lake Macquarie mayor Kay Fraser added the city was now home to more than 115 kilometres of off-road shared paths.

“This kind of infrastructure promotes healthy lifestyles, improves our environment by taking cars off the road and provides important links between suburbs,” she said.

“It is an important step in our region’s roll-out of sustainable commuter transport options.”

Seating and drinking fountains have been installed at intervals for path users, along with interpretive signage.

The $10.5 million total project cost included upgraded pedestrian crossings, new kerb and gutter in sections, construction of a 550-metre fence along the golf course and more than 15,000 new shrubs, trees and plants.

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