A concept illustration of the proposed bridge. Image: Forge.
A long-awaited shared path bridge connecting Coombs with North Weston, which will slash ride times to Civic and other areas, could be under construction by next year, following the release of a tender for the project.
The Suburban Land Agency is seeking a contractor to deliver the steel truss bridge across Weston Creek near the Molonglo River Reserve, and connecting paths.
The new connection will start at the eastern end of Harold White Drive in Coombs and finish at the Weston-Civic Path.
The bridge will also go across the crucial Molonglo Valley Interceptor Sewer, which will need to be protected.
The tender document says that by completing this vital segment, the project will fully integrate the Coombs Molonglo River Trail, enhancing outdoor activities such as walking, running, and cycling.
Pedal Power ACT, which has been advocating for the link for five years, says the project will close a crucial gap in the commuter route from Molonglo to Civic via Scrivener Dam, eliminating around 1.5 km of detours.
Currently, cyclists must navigate busy John Gorton Drive to access the Civic path.
But Pedal Power was concerned about the 9 per cent gradient on the downward approach from Weston and had sought 5 per cent or at the most 7 per cent in talks with government, to ensure the bridge was as accessible and safe as possible.
Where the new paths and bridge will be built. Image: JPS Engineering Consultants.
A new path will also link the bridge to Streeton Drive and Cotter Rd, which Pedal Power says will allow cyclists to bypass an awkward hill near the RSPCA.
Documents show a 56-metre-long light steel bridge and approaches featuring a non-slip, mini-mesh deck and a 4-metre clearance between cycle handrails.
The works include the construction of paths, the bridge, causeways, earthworks and retaining walls, as well as street lighting and landscaping.
A wider view of what the bridge could look like. Image: Forge.
Originally, the Coombs Estate Development Plan allowed for road connection to North Weston, a legacy of which is the eastern end of Harold White Drive left unfinished.
However, the tender states that construction was delayed due to the North Weston Ponds project encountering undocumented contamination, which led to a redesign that eliminated the proposed road connection.
The Territory remediated the contaminated materials and conducted environmental monitoring over several years before the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) gave the all clear for the land to be used as parks and open space in May last year.
According to the tender documents, Harold White Drive will now be closed off and kerbed to flow around into Pearlman Street.
The tender closes on 11 December.
