A list of ACT community facility and pedestrian infrastructure projects will be fast-tracked, after a commitment of nearly $8 million from the Commonwealth Government today.
The Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program will see shovel-ready projects, including several active travel and community sport facilities, undergo construction and maintenance over the next 12 months.
ACT Senator Zed Seselja welcomed the announcement today (Wednesday 26 August) and said it would bring with it a necessary boost for the local economy.
“This funding has been allocated across city improvements including paths, streetlighting, sportsgrounds, skate parks and community facilities,” he said.
“The Federal Government is committed to getting Australians home sooner and safer, and today’s announcement builds on $1 billion in new investments announced in the ACT by the Federal Government in the past two years.”
Active travel projects will see priority crossings built on Theodore Street at Melrose Drive in Woden, and for the City-Woden cycle route along Loftus and Schlich streets in Yarralumla.
The community sporting sector will also receive upgrades on the Stirling and Kambah playing fields, and the Woden Enclosed Athletics Track.
ACT City Services Minister Chris Steel said the program covered a diverse range of small projects and would create a consistent stream of work in the Territory over the next 12 months.
“The ACT Government has had a deliberate focus on supporting active travel infrastructure projects during the pandemic, and a further $2.84 million is being allocated to strategic improvements to cycleways and walking paths,” he said.
“Cyclist safety is being improved with new priority crossings on the Tuggeranong to City Cycle Link, and the roll-out of CBR cycle route wayfinding will be continued across the Territory.”
The ACT Government has matched $17.6 million worth of funding for infrastructure projects, as part of the Federal Government’s boost for road and community projects.
Other jointly-funded ACT road infrastructure projects have been in the pipeline, with the new northbound overtaking lane between Williamsdale Road and Royalla Drive now open.
Design works are still underway for the Lanyon Drive Interchange, after the concept plans were released in May this year.
Mr Steel also delivered an update on the Gungahlin-Belconnen connecting road duplication.
“The construction tender for the duplication of the road connecting Belconnen and Gungahlin between the Barton Highway and Ginninderra Drive has been released,” he said.
“This project will be delivered in two stages with the first stage of construction expected to start later this year.” The full list of infrastructure projects can be found at www.act.gov.au/fasttrack.
