There was a time when Oxford Street was Sydney’s most buzzing precinct, but the link between the CBD and the Eastern Suburbs has had something of a fall from grace – with the (now overturned) lockout laws often pinpointed as one of the main culprits. Long overdue for a little love, the well-travelled thoroughfare connecting Taylor Square to Centennial Park is set for a full makeover. According to the NSW Government, the storied strip is set to welcome wider footpaths, more trees, better lighting, and more space for outdoor dining, along with the completion of the (somewhat controversial) 1.8-kilometre Oxford Street cycleway.
First up, a pulse-check on stage one of the Oxford Street glow-up: the first stretch of the city-shaping cycleway. Despite some opposition, this one appears to be a success, with the new path (which only opened in July) already overtaking Sydney Harbour Bridge as the city’s most popular cycle route, with more than 3,000 trips a day and counting. The number of cyclists commuting along the western section of Oxford Street has doubled in just a few months, giving thousands of Sydneysiders a safer route between the CBD and the east. As it stands though, the fun stops abruptly at Taylor Square – where cyclists are currently left to fend for themselves in traffic-heavy lanes. The eastern extension, stretching to the gates of Centennial Parklands, will fix that – making Oxford Street one of Sydney’s breeziest two-wheeled commutes.
Next up: lifestyle. The additional changes to Oxford Street will focus on improving the public domain, to turn the corridor into a more welcoming space for pedestrians, too. According to the NSW Government, we can expect more than 50 new trees, five additional pedestrian crossings, street seating, public artwork, and upgraded signage – plus more space for outdoor dining and frequent community events (including weekly markets).
The plan ties in neatly with the city’s broader revitalisation efforts, including the lifting of the concert cap at Centennial Park and the state-wide Special Entertainment Precinct project, and has been described by Minister for Transport, John Graham as “well overdue”.
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As Sydney follows the lead of other global cities where bikes now outnumber cars in city centres, Oxford Street’s evolution aims to reimagine the area as a safer, more progressive, more people-focused high street. To ease the transition, a $3 million activation fund has been set aside to support businesses through the construction phase, ensuring street life stays lively before, during and after the upgrade.
You can learn more about the big plans for Oxford Street over here.