The utilities upgrades will pave the way for track work to begin. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Forecast rain associated with an approaching cold front has forced Infrastructure Canberra to postpone road closures on Northbourne Avenue in the city where light rail enabling works were slated for this weekend.
The utilities works will now kick off from the following weekend, weather permitting.
Infrastructure Canberra says these complex underground service upgrades and installation works beneath Northbourne Avenue will prepare utilities for light rail Stage 2A to Commonwealth Park and improve the stormwater drainage system in the city.
Northbourne Avenue will now be closed southbound between the Cooyong Street intersection and Vernon Circle from 8 pm Friday, 1 August, until 6 am, Monday, 4 August.
From 8 pm, Friday, 8 August, until 6 am, Monday, 11 August, Northbourne Avenue will be closed northbound between Rudd Street intersection and Vernon Circle.
Over the next few weekends, works will occur at the intersection of London Circuit and Northbourne Avenue, as well as at the intersection of Alinga Street and Northbourne Avenue.
Detours during the southbound closures will be via Wakefield and Limestone avenues to Parkes Way and Kings Avenue, Cooyong and Coranderrk streets to Commonwealth Avenue, and Barry Drive and Clunies Ross Street to Parkes Way.
During the northbound closures, drivers can take a detour via Commonwealth Avenue via Edinburgh Avenue to Barry Drive, Commonwealth Avenue to Constitution Avenue, and Kings Avenue via Parkes Way to Cooyong Street.
Motorists can expect further intermittent weekend closures from September until mid-2026, although one lane of Northbourne Avenue will remain open at all times to reduce the impact on the traffic network.
Infrastructure Canberra will notify the community in advance about further closures and traffic changes as the works progress.
“This is a significant step forward as we begin connecting the newly laid services from London Circuit East, under Northbourne Avenue through to London Circuit West,” Infrastructure Canberra says.
“Once utilities and stormwater are in place, civil and services works on the track and light rail stops will start later this year.”
Works will take place on weekends to minimise the impact on commuters.
Bus services or the city bus interchange are not expected to be affected during August.
To learn more, visit Built for CBR.
GPS navigation applications will also be updated to reflect the changed network and detours.
