Page 3604 - Week 12 - Thursday, 20 September 1990
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ACTION to operate. For example, if the reduced travel time and distance via Athllon Drive allows ACTION to reduce its bus fleet by only one bus, this will save ACTION about $330,000 in capital cost and $120,000 per year in reduced operating costs for those express buses routed between Tuggeranong and Woden. Further savings in local bus route operating costs will also be achieved due to the overall reduction in travel time along Athllon Drive.
In addition to the ACTION difficulties, the ACT Government was aware of a number of other problems emerging in the Athllon Drive corridor. These included traffic intrusion into south Woden residential suburbs caused by motorists taking short cuts through the suburbs to avoid congestion in Athllon Drive; pedestrian, and especially school student safety problems crossing Athllon Drive; an increasing crash experience at some of the intersections along Athllon Drive; and road pavement damage resulting from heavy traffic on the road, which has now exceeded its design life.
Two consultancies were commissioned, with the objective to investigate the most cost effective way of addressing the issues raised by the present arrangements on Athllon Drive. Both studies accepted the basic premise established by the earlier Environmental Impact Statement, that Athllon Drive should not be significantly upgraded for general traffic but should have an enhanced public transport role.
The studies, which both utilised the latest available traffic volume information, recognised the need for traffic capacity to be maintained north of Sulwood Drive, to provide access for north Tuggeranong residents to Woden, and south Woden residents to Tuggeranong as well as to avoid putting unnecessary traffic through Woden Town Centre. However the capacity of the road system north of Athllon Drive, especially on Adelaide Avenue is very constrained. A number of high quality alternatives exist which will improve traffic safety and access to the north. In addition, the other major users of Athllon Drive, which are residents of the south Woden suburbs, will gain from improved safety and reduced delays at the intersections.
The $1m will upgrade the Beasley Street south and Beasley Street north intersections on Athllon Drive and improve signal linking at the northern end of Athllon Drive.
in summary, therefore, in response to the specific recommendations of the Committee it is advised:
- all studies have utilised the latest available traffic figures; further studies are not therefore considered necessary.
- all the options for Athllon Drive have been thoroughly reviewed by R J Nairn and their conclusions are consistent with those of Denis Johnston & Assoc
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