Holt Street in Surry Hills will remain closed to through traffic at Devonshire Street after overwhelming community opposition stopped plans to reopen the road, while a proposed traffic reversal on neighbouring Adelaide Place continues to progress.
The decision was recorded at the City of Sydney’s traffic forum, following consultation in which 185 of 208 submissions, or 89 per cent, opposed reopening Holt Street. Only 18 supported the proposal, with five expressing neutral views.
Holt Street’s pedestrian space retained
Closed at Devonshire Street during light rail works in 2019, Holt Street has since developed into a pedestrian gathering space serving nearby cafés, restaurants and workers. Reopening the road would have allowed northbound vehicles to enter from Devonshire Street through a shared zone.
The original design proposed new paving, seating, lighting, planting and bicycle parking alongside vehicle access. Plans also included removing one tree while retaining the others.
According to the community engagement report, retaining the pedestrian-only space and protecting its role as a gathering place were the most frequently raised reasons for opposition. Respondents also identified concerns about outdoor dining, neighbourhood character and pedestrian safety.
Adelaide Place faces a traffic reversal
Attention has now shifted to Adelaide Place, where the City proposes reversing the existing northbound one-way arrangement between Adelaide Street and Devonshire Street to southbound.
Under the consultation proposal, access from Adelaide Street would be restricted to cars, while Adelaide Place properties would need to place bins on Adelaide Street, Steel Street or Devonshire Street for collection. The final implementation arrangements have not yet been confirmed.
The Adelaide Place proposal drew substantially fewer responses than the Holt Street reopening. Of 33 submissions addressing the reversal, 16 supported it, eight opposed it and nine were neutral. The traffic forum raised no objections to the proposed arrangement, although its decision does not establish that the changes have been implemented.
City of Sydney confirmed that no parking spaces would be removed under the Adelaide Place proposal. Transport for NSW also advised that the arrangement must prevent vehicles from crossing the light rail tracks on Devonshire Street.
Steel Street residents seek traffic safeguards
The proposed changes follow concerns about vehicle movements on narrow residential streets after Holt Street and Waterloo Street were closed at Devonshire Street in 2019. According to the City’s traffic records, residents reported increased car and truck movements along Steel Street and Adelaide Place.
During the traffic forum, a resident raised concerns that reversing Adelaide Place could direct additional vehicles onto Steel Street and called for improvements and traffic monitoring.
City officers advised that traffic modelling indicated Steel Street could accommodate the expected movements. Traffic counts taken before implementation will be compared with further counts after the reversal to assess its effect on surrounding roads.
A September 2025 traffic survey recorded Adelaide Place’s busiest northbound hour at 33 light vehicles. The City identified the road’s narrow width and residential entrances close to passing traffic as safety considerations behind the proposed reversal.
Cooper and Riley streets also face changes
The traffic proposals are connected to the wider Surry Hills to Central Quietway, which includes changes to vehicle access, cycling infrastructure, pedestrian crossings and parking.
Under the February 2026 traffic treatments, Cooper Street between Elizabeth and Holt streets and Arthur Street between Riley and Crown streets are proposed to become one-way westbound. Plans also include separated cycleways, landscaped kerb extensions and a raised pedestrian crossing on Cooper Street near Waterloo Street.
On Riley Street, a raised pedestrian and cycleway crossing is proposed near Arthur Street. The revised design also provides for relocating the existing raised zebra crossing near Collins Street, with the relocation expected to create a net gain of three parking spaces. Other sections of the Quietway involve separate parking changes.
Designated bicycle parking areas were subsequently included in the expanded project scope endorsed in May 2026.
Construction dates still to be confirmed
The published decision does not establish when the Adelaide Place traffic reversal will be implemented. The timing of individual works under the wider Quietway also depends on the relevant approvals and construction arrangements.
Published 01-Oct-2026
