The ACT Government will upgrade ‘a well-known bottleneck’ in the road network, the Corranderk Street roundabout on Parkes Way, to minimise traffic disruption while Stage 2 of light rail to Woden is built, announced Chris Steel, Minister for Transport and City Services.
The roundabout is a key intersection between Canberra’s CBD and the Parliamentary Triangle, Mr Steel said.
A dominant westbound flow of traffic in the morning causes major congestion for eastbound traffic coming into the City and the Parliamentary Triangle from Belconnen and Tuggeranong.
New traffic lights will be set up at the intersection of Parkes Way and Coranderrk Street, and the westbound turning lanes at the roundabout will also be extended.
Once the signals are built, Mr Steel estimates 250 more eastbound vehicles will be able to exit Parkes Way onto Coranderrk Street to access the city each hour in the morning peak period during construction – a capacity increase of approximately 20 per cent, from 1,350 to 1,600 vehicles per hour.
“This will help cut delays at the intersection for faster and less frustrating commutes,” Mr Steel said.
More traffic is expected on Parkes Way during the construction of light rail and the raising of London Circuit, due to lane closures and works on Commonwealth Avenue, Mr Steel said.
Vehicles will be diverted via Kings Avenue, the Tuggeranong Parkway, and the Monaro Highway.
Installing traffic lights and road cameras also means the ACT’s Traffic Management Centre can adjust the timing of the lights in real time to optimise traffic flow.
The roundabout is a Commonwealth Government asset managed by the National Capital Authority (NCA), but the ACT Government has funded the upgrades in the 2021-22 ACT Budget.
The ACT Government’s Disruption Taskforce identified these intersection works as a priority action for managing traffic disruption associated with light rail. The Taskforce is identifying more ways to help keep Canberrans moving during the construction period.
Design work for the improvements has commenced, and will involve ongoing discussions with the NCA. Road users should expect some delays during construction, which is expected to begin in the first half of 2022 (dependent on approvals). Works will be timed for completion in parallel with the start of major works to raise London Circuit.
As part of the broader light rail works, the ACT Government will put signals on the northern side of Vernon Circle to allow vehicles to right-turn safely onto Constitution Avenue and London Circuit.
“Building light rail to Woden will provide more convenient and reliable transport options for people on the southside, helping prevent future traffic congestion and cut transport emissions,” Mr Steel said.
“As we work to realise those benefits, we’re being upfront with the community there will be disruption coming on our road network. We are undertaking significant preparation and planning to minimise that impact as much as possible.
“This is only the first in a range of actions the ACT Government will take to manage the disruption and support our community through the construction period.”
For more information on building light rail to Woden, visit: www.act.gov.au/lightrailtowoden
