Page 281 - Week 01 - Thursday, 12 February 2015
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MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Minister, how is the government addressing the traffic congestion situation at the intersection of Gundaroo Drive and the Barton Highway?
MR GENTLEMAN: The ACT government agreed last year to fund a $10 million improvement to the roundabout at the junction of Gundaroo Drive, the Barton Highway and William Slim Drive. The aim of the upgrade of the Barton Highway roundabout is to improve the capacity of this intersection through the signalisation of the existing roundabout formation at the intersection.
The intersection upgrade is planned in association with an upgrade of William Slim Drive from the south and Gundaroo Drive from the north to improve the level of service of this intersection notably for all commuters through peak periods, catering for increased residential development north of the Barton Highway.
Some of the key features of the works are: traffic signals on the approaches to the roundabout to control balance flows of traffic onto the roundabout, allowing it to operate more efficiently; the provision of three traffic lanes on all of the approaches and through the roundabout; bus lanes on William Slim Drive and Gundaroo Drive; the provision of on-road cycle lanes on all movements, except on the Barton Highway southbound, approaching the intersection; construction of a new shared path bridge; and a bus lane located on the kerbside lane, set back from the traffic signal on William Slim Drive and Gundaroo approaches, with a raised median island between the general traffic and bus dedicated lanes. A temporary tie-in to the existing single carriageway approaches will also occur on both William Slim Drive and Gundaroo Drive.
It is expected that construction will begin in June of this year and will be completed by mid-2016. The signalisation and the additional localised lane improvements will provide more efficient movement through the congested intersection. I am sure that commuters in Gungahlin and those coming into Canberra will be really excited to see these changes come through. This will reduce travel time, especially during the am and pm peak periods. (Time expired.)
Convention centre—cost
MR SMYTH: My question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, your press release of Monday, 9 February 2015 stated:
The $500-$700 million project will provide Canberra with an iconic Convention Centre.
Chief Minister, who determined this cost range for the convention centre project? Was it (a) the architects, (b) the judging panel, (c) the department or (d) your office?
MR BARR: I received a range of advice from those who were involved in the development of the project. For those who are familiar with construction costs, the earlier business cases that had been developed for the projected indicated, at a
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