Construction has commenced on an elevated cycleway and pedestrian overpass in Sydney’s North Rye neighbourhood.

Designed by Australian architectural firm KI Studio and developed by Landcom, the new 160-metre bridge will span across the Hills M2 motorway and Delhi Road, providing a direct link between the not-yet-completed Lachlan’s Line 'urban village', Macquarie Park, and the North Rye railway station.

Intended to function both as a public space and as a sculpture, the estimated $40m (US$28.4m, €25m, £22m) bridge will feature hanging gardens and will be shaped according to CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) principles.

Commenting on the project, Landcom’s CEO, John Brogden, said it the crossing would be "an important piece of infrastructure that will support the 5,000 new residents who will eventually reside at Lachlan’s Line, helping to reduce reliance on cars".

The project, which has been in the works since 2014, is scheduled for completion in 2019.