Released 07/10/2021
The ACT Government will ramp up investment in Canberra’s active travel network and strategic transport corridors to boost local jobs and deliver more essential infrastructure for our city’s growing regions.
“This city-wide transport package will deliver a boost to economic activity as Canberra gradually re-opens from the COVID-19 public health emergency,” said Minister for Transport and City Services Chris Steel.
“Local infrastructure investment is central to firing our economy back up and achieving our goal of 250,000 local jobs by 2025.
“Canberra will see continued strong growth in the years to come. That’s why we are planning past the COVID horizon to deliver the transport infrastructure that will be needed to keep our city moving in the years ahead.
“This package prioritises investment in Canberra’s strategic transport corridors to better connect our regions, public transport and active travel infrastructure and is supported by our $5 billion infrastructure program announced in this week’s budget.
“We are connecting the growing communities of West Belconnen and the Molonglo Valley by duplicating William Hovell Drive from John Gorton Drive to Drake Brockman Drive.
“This will include an upgrade to the intersection with Drake Brockman Drive and building a new seven kilometre off-road shared path providing a new cycle link to the City.”
With designs being finalised, the ACT Government is also delivering significant upgrades to the Monaro Highway, with a new grade separated interchange at Lanyon Drive to improve safety and traffic flow.
“In addition to benefitting Tuggeranong commuters, this major upgrade to the Monaro Highway will support the safe and efficient movement of more people and freight around the whole Canberra and southern New South Wales region,” said Minister Steel.
This package will see $45 million invested in active travel initiatives right across Canberra, building our current pipeline of walking and cycling projects to more than $77 million.
“Active travel is a key part of our plan to build a more vibrant and sustainable city and that’s why we are making new investments in cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, as well as investing more in public transport,” said Minister Steel.
In addition to the new active travel connection delivered through the William Hovell Drive project, our major new active travel initiatives include:
- construction of a four kilometre shared path along the southern side of Sulwood Drive in Kambah between Drakeford Drive and Athllon Drive, and installation of a traffic light intersection at Mannheim Street to promote safe access to the Mount Taylor Nature Reserve
- constructing a new shared path connection and bridge linking Coombs near Klos Crossing to the city cycle path network
- feasibility and planning work for the Garden City Cycle Route, a new major trunk cycle route from Watson through to the City
- delivery of a route planning study for active travel links in and around the Gungahlin Town Centre
- an additional $4 million investment in cycle path maintenance across Canberra plus additional investment in maintaining and building footpaths.
- extension of the Age Friendly Suburbs Program to Chifley, O’Connor Reid and Scullin.
Further active travel projects have also been proposed in the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program Round 3 which will be jointly delivered in partnership with the Commonwealth Government.
Minister for Housing and Urban Development Yvette Berry said connecting the new suburbs of Molonglo Valley to our active travel network is a high priority as more residents come to call the Molonglo Valley home.
“We want Molonglo residents to have the option of taking more sustainable forms of transport, and the ACT Government will continue to deliver the infrastructure and services this growing region needs to be better connected with the rest of Canberra,” Minister Berry said.
The Government will also strengthen public transport links to the Molonglo Valley with investment in new bus services announced for Whitlam due to commence in 2022 to provide a public transport option for new residents.
“With new investment in strategic transport corridors, active travel and public transport, we are making the future-focused investment in infrastructure necessary to support a more sustainable transport future for Canberra,” said Minister Steel.
- Statement ends -
Chris Steel, MLA | Media Releases