Upgrades to the Monaro Highway corridor, south of Canberra, have begun.

The Australian and ACT governments each committed $115.25 million towards the $230.5 million project.

Work on the new Lanyon Drive Interchange, the first of three interchanges planned for the Monaro Highway, has begun. The government says this will improve safety and reduce congestion.

This consists of a southbound flyover for the highway over Lanyon Drive and three intersection upgrades including:

• The removal of traffic lights at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (intersection of the Monaro Highway and David Warren Road);
• A new roundabout at the intersection of the new Monaro Highway southbound off-ramp and David Warren Road extension;
• Upgrading the signalised intersection at Lanyon Drive and Sheppard Street to include a direct connection to David Warren Road and the Monaro Highway southbound off-ramp.

The government says this design will have minimal impact on native vegetation.

The landscaping plans are being finalised; they will focus on local and native species, prioritising tree planting, water sensitive urban design, and biodiversity conservation.

Major water mains and telecommunication networks were relocated in January 2022.

Future interchanges at the Hume industrial precinct and Isabella Drive are being designed.

The relocation of two gas mains, underway since October 2023, is now complete.

Early preparatory works, involving site clearing and earthworks, started last month with large machinery, including excavators and trucks.

There will be impacts to travel times during construction, including during peak periods, the government warned. Reduced speed limits and temporary lane closures are expected.

Motorists are encouraged to rethink their travel plans, and to take public transport or travel outside peak times.

Construction is expected to take about three years to complete.

New school for Whitlam

The ACT Government also committed $76.8 million to deliver a new preschool to year 6 school and early childhood education and care centre in the suburb of Whitlam.

This new public school is expected to open for the 2026 school year. Once complete, it will accommodate up to 780 preschool to year 6 students and 130 places in the early childhood education and care centre.

The new school will be next to John Gorton Drive on the corner of Hazel Hawke Avenue and Alice Moyle Way.