As part of work to raise London Circuit, the ramp from Parkes Way eastbound onto Commonwealth Avenue southbound will close for a week from Tuesday 21 March.

Transport minister Chris Steel said that the full ramp must be closed to carry out utility works safely, because significant excavation was needed, and so that much of the work can be completed at once.

The week-long road closure will reduce the number of weekend closures that would otherwise be required, Mr Steel said.

Work will take place 24 hours a day while closures are in place to accomplish as much as possible in the allowed time.

Road closures

The Parkes Way off-ramp onto Commonwealth Avenue will be closed:

• From 10am Tuesday 21 March to 7am Tuesday 28 March (one-week closure)

As a contingency, if work is delayed by weather or unforeseen circumstances, works may be required:

• From 8pm Friday 31 March to 7am Monday 3 April

Suggested detours

During the closures, detours will be in place via Coranderrk Street and Constitution Avenue.

Motorists can also continue on Parkes Way and use the Kings Avenue Bridge to access South Canberra. There will be no lane closures on Parkes Way because of the work.

Travellers are advised to rethink their routine, drive outside peak hour traffic, and use public transport when possible.

“We’ll continue to be upfront with the community about traffic impacts associated with works on our major infrastructure projects that will support our city’s future growth and the transformation of Canberra’s CBD,” Mr Steel said.

“We’re reminding the community to rethink their routine, and assess how they will travel in and around the city while these works are underway.”

Canberra Liberals MLA Mark Parton, shadow minister for transport, said: “As we lurch deeper and deeper into this ludicrously expensive white elephant project, Canberrans are becoming extremely aware that the tram translates to traffic chaos, and we haven’t seen the worst of it yet. The vast majority of peak hour commuters don’t have the luxury of re-thinking their routine, and they’re paying the price for the Labor/Greens obsession with tram construction at any cost.”

For more information on travel impacts, visit builtforcbr.act.gov.au/travel-impacts