Page 3777 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 29 October 2014
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SMEC was commissioned by Roads ACT to undertake a strategic transport and micro-simulation modelling study of Fairbairn Avenue to evaluate possible upgrade options. This road is an important arterial in Canberra’s road network, particularly in its role as an approach route to Canberra Airport, while its location alongside the residential suburb of Campbell poses challenges regarding the road’s impact on and integration with the surrounding community.
The report discussed several options, including the base “do nothing” option—this scenario represents the network and land use assuming the proposed Fairbairn Avenue upgrade does not go ahead; in 2021 and 2031 it includes the Majura parkway—Fairbairn Avenue duplication option 1—this scenario represents the duplication of Fairbairn Avenue between Pialligo Avenue and Truscott Street—and Fairbairn Avenue duplication option 2—this scenario represents the duplication of Fairbairn Avenue between Pialligo Avenue and Anzac Parade. Importantly, the report states:
In 2011 AM Base, Fairbairn Avenue is already operating near capacity, while Morshead Drive (particularly westbound) and Pialligo Avenue (particularly eastbound) are also under stress.
In 2021 AM, Fairbairn Avenue still operates at or near capacity, and the eastbound volume has increased compared to the 2011 AM Base. In particular, the addition of Majura Parkway results in Fairbairn Avenue eastbound between Majura Parkway and Pialligo Avenue operating near capacity.
The report also states, which is timely given the government’s motion this morning, that rat running is likely to increase significantly as a result of Majura parkway and the limited capacity of Fairbairn Avenue, especially given that it is already at capacity. Residents of Campbell are already witnessing rat running on Truscott Street and Blamey Crescent, and the additional traffic on Fairbairn is predicted to see this increase significantly.
The conclusion of the report includes that: the strategic transport and micro-simulation modelling analyses indicated that Fairbairn Avenue is already at capacity and that duplication of Fairbairn Avenue should be conducted for the full length of the road, rather than only east of Truscott Street and the partial duplication in option 1 will encourage increased rat running through the streets of Campbell compared to the do nothing option, while the full duplication in option 2 will reduce this rat running compared to the do nothing option.
My motion calls for the government to detail how they will address the congestion concerns of motorists using Fairbairn Avenue to access the city from Majura parkway. In 2016, it will not be good enough for the ACT government to say that they did not foresee the issues of congestion on Fairbairn Avenue and dangerous rat running throughout Campbell and other suburbs. The ACT government should address these concerns now so that the problems are mitigated from day one. This government has form when it comes to building roads with capacity. We all know what happened: the GDE went from $52 million to $200 million and cost the ACT community much more in lost productivity.
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