Page 1811 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 8 June 2022
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As I have said many times, these projects are not just about upgrading roads. We are duplicating lanes and improving capacity for public transport and private vehicles, including the new bus stops, and we are also delivering new active travel and public transport infrastructure so that it is accessible and attractive, making it easier for Canberrans to have the option of ditching the car and trying another way to get around. The project is delivering 6.4 kilometres of new, on-road cycle lanes, in addition to improving connections to the off-road network with new, wider underpass structures with lighting and improved path connections. We are also delivering more bus stops and upgrading those that we already have.
Following its commencement in February 2022, earlier this year we reached a milestone, with four lanes opening from the Barton Highway towards Chuculba Crescent and the completion of the on-road cycle lanes in this section. We have also completed major works on the future eastbound lanes between Baldwin Drive and Ginninderra Drive, where traffic is now travelling in both directions while we construct the future westbound lanes and signalise the Dumas Street intersection. Major works in this section should be complete this year.
Works are also underway in the final section from Chuculba Crescent to Baldwin Drive. This section was separated from the initial construction package due to the additional design work needed to upgrade the Owen Dixon Drive intersection to a signalised intersection, as part of planning for future development of the nearby CSIRO land. Initially expected for completion in mid-2023, the time frame has been updated to late 2023 so that we can finalise the design and procurement process.
Over in Canberra’s south, we are also delivering major upgrades to the Monaro Highway to make the corridor safer, to cut travel times and to add capacity, as well as supporting this important freight corridor. We completed the first package of works in July 2020, which were the safety improvements to the rural section of the Monaro Highway between Old Cooma Road and Williamsdale Road. This included delivering a new left-turn slip lane at the Old Cooma Road intersection, as well as a new northbound overtaking lane between Williamsdale Road and Royalla Drive.
The next stages of the Monaro Highway upgrades will improve safety and travel times for motorists travelling from north of Johnson Drive through to Hindmarsh Drive. Sections of the Monaro Highway, particularly at Hume and Fyshwick, are consistently recognised as being amongst the most dangerous roads in the ACT. In delivering these upgrades, a number of significant conflict points will be removed, providing a greater level of safety, as well as certainty in decision-making for drivers.
A focus of these works is the new Lanyon Drive interchange. This will deliver a new southbound flyover over Lanyon Drive, as well as intersection upgrades at key points on David Warren Road and Sheppard Street. Early works are well underway for the future interchange. These include significant utility relocations to facilitate construction of the interchange, which is due to start in 2023 and will take at least 2½ years to complete.
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