What the light rail bridge over Parkes Way will look like. Image: Infrastructure Canberra.
The construction of light rail Stage 2A is about to ramp up, with work set to begin on Canberra’s first light rail bridge, a major milestone in connecting the city to Commonwealth Park and the Acton Waterfront.
The work will also mean Parkes Way will need to be closed for a time in the last week of June and possibly the first week of July. More closures can be expected later in the year.
Infrastructure Canberra says the new rail bridge will span Parkes Way between the existing Commonwealth Avenue road bridges.
It has been designed to carry two fully loaded light rail vehicles simultaneously – the equivalent of approximately 70 cars.
Bridge piling works for the foundations will begin in late June, paving the way for the installation of massive steel girder frames later in the year.
This will require the deployment of an 800-tonne crane stationed in the Parkes Way median, which Infrastructure Canberra says will be a significant engineering feat.
To ensure piling works can be undertaken safely, Parkes Way will be closed under Commonwealth Avenue in both directions between Coranderrk Street and the Glenloch Interchange from 8 pm on Friday, 27 June, until 5 am on Monday, 30 June, and possibly from 8 pm on Friday, 4 July, until 5 am on Monday, 7 July.
Infrastructure Canberra said traffic controls and signage will be put in place to safely direct motorists along alternative routes.
Eastbound traffic will be directed along either Caswell Drive or Lady Denman Drive, while westbound traffic will be diverted across Commonwealth Avenue.
Infrastructure Canberra said works have been scheduled to take place over weekends to minimise the impact on Canberra’s road network. Public transport may experience some delays during these works.
Additional road closures will be necessary in the coming months as construction on the light rail project continues.
The community will be notified in advance about any potential impacts and traffic changes.
The new bridge will be the first of several on the way to Woden, including the major crossing across Lake Burley Griffin in Stage 2B, then across State Circle, Hopetoun Circuit and Yarralumla Creek.
Construction on Stage 2A started in February as the Raising London Circuit project neared completion. It is expected to take two years to build the 1.7 km long extension, with a further year of testing and commissioning before services commence in 2028.
Construction on light rail Stage 2B, Commonwealth Park to Woden, is expected to start in 2028 following the completion of Stage 2A, with the entire light rail to Woden project to be completed in 2033.
To learn more about road changes and other impacts of the construction of light rail, visit Built for CBR.
