Sydney light rail: All aboard for a new look Surry Hills

THE first glimpse of the changes light rail will bring to Surry Hills was unveiled this morning as the project passed halfway mark.

THE first glimpse of the changes light rail will bring to Surry Hills was unveiled this morning as the project passed halfway mark.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance promised pedestrian-friendly footpaths and pocket parks, outdoor dining and a green corridor would bring Devonshire St alive and provide a new connection with Moore Park.

The new images were released today after work started last weekend on the installation of a new light rail bridge over the Eastern Distributor, which is expected to be completed by the end of the week.

An artist’s impression of the light rail on Devonshire St. Picture: Supplied

The NSW government is planning “pedestrian-friendly footpaths” and pocket parks as part of the roll out. Picture: Supplied

The proposed Holt St “pocket park” in the heart of Surry Hills. Picture: Supplied

“The NSW government is getting on with building the light rail from the city to the south-east, and with more than seven kilometres of the 12 kilometre route under construction, and Surry Hills and Moore Park now connected, it’s exciting to see this project coming to life,” Mr Constance said.

“The Eastern Distributor Bridge will connect the missing link of the route between the CBD and the south-east, and enables crews to continue tunnelling in Moore Park and expand construction in Surry Hills.

“Our focus is to maintain that unique personality that residents and visitors all love about Surry Hills, while improving the streetscape and providing a fantastic new public transport service at the same time,” Mr Constance said.

The proposed light rail’s Eastern Distributor bridge. Picture: Supplied

How the Surry Hills stop will look. Picture: Supplied

A new look for Elizabeth St, Surry Hills. Picture: Supplied

The 12km line now being built from Circular Quay will terminate at Kingsford and is expected to be operating by early 2019.

Work is under way at the bottom of Devonshire St near Central Station and on Anzac Pde near Kensington.

“There’s an opportunity for us to make massive improvements that will add to the culture and environment of Devonshire St, and as well as new pocket parks, we are undergrounding the current overhead powerlines and widening footpaths where we can.”

The line, which will tunnel under a section of Moore Park after crossing the Eastern Distributor, promised to deliver thousands of fans to the Sydney Cricket Ground and Sydney Football Stadium with the turn up and go service expected to be able to shuttle about 450 fans — the equivalent of nine standard buses — to and from Moore Park every four minutes from Central Station during peak periods.