The new traffic arrangements will be fully in place from Thursday. Photo: NCA.
Major works on the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge start on Tuesday, bringing traffic disruptions that will last two years.
The renewal works — bridge strengthening and widening of shared paths — require the year-long closure of a span at a time, starting this week with the northbound side of the bridge.
Construction of temporary crossover lanes that will allow traffic to move onto the open side of the bridge during the closures has been completed.
Before the full closure, permanent bollards separating the two northbound lanes and the one southbound lane will need to be installed, as well as signage and line marking.
The National Capital Authority says this will take about three days, with the northbound span to close from Thursday, weather permitting.
On Tuesday from 6:45 am to 5 pm, the Flynn Drive on-ramp to Commonwealth Avenue Bridge will be closed to traffic, except for Transport Canberra vehicles.
From 10 am Tuesday to 3:30 pm Wednesday, southbound traffic will be reduced to one lane only and moved into the far-right lane closest to the median. All three northbound lanes and both shared paths will remain open.
After 3:30 pm to 6 am Thursday, southbound traffic will occupy one lane only, moving into the far-left lane closest to the shared path. Southbound traffic will remain here for the duration of Stage 1. All three northbound lanes and both shared paths will remain open.
After 6 am Thursday, the Flynn Drive on-ramp to Commonwealth Avenue Bridge will close to traffic except for Transport Canberra vehicles for the duration of Stage 1.
From 6 am to 1 pm, northbound traffic (including buses) will be reduced to one lane only on the northbound bridge and moved into the far-left lane closest to the shared path. The shared path on the northbound side of the bridge will close for the duration of Stage 1.
From 1 pm to 3 pm, all northbound traffic will move onto the southbound bridge into the middle general traffic lane via the crossover lane. The northbound bus and emergency services priority lane will remain closed until opening at 3 pm.
The NCA urges road users to allow extra travel time, consider travelling outside peak times, or find other ways to travel.
Bus passengers will also be affected and Transport Canberra will publish a new timetable from 2 February, timed for the start of the school term.
“The road network will be monitored and we will work closely with the ACT Government to regularly communicate about impacts and alternate routes,” the NCA said.
“We recognise this is going to be disruptive and are committed to completing works as efficiently and safely as possible.”
Lake users will also be affected, with most of the works happening either inside the bridge deck or beneath the bridge, and carried out from barges.
Sections of the lake beneath the bridge will be closed gradually as works progress. Exact timings will be provided on the project page and directly to the Lake User Group when available.
