Light rail construction works on the corner of Northbourne Avenue and London Circuit. Photo: Ian Bushnell.
February will be another busy month for major road infrastructure projects across Canberra, starting with a partial day closure of Coppins Crossing Road.
The road will be closed from 2 am to 3 pm this Thursday (5 February) to allow a concrete pour on the recently installed precast deck slabs at the Molonglo River Bridge.
The closure is between Holborow Avenue and Hazel Hawke Avenue, and detours will take motorists:
- Southbound from Belconnen: From William Hovell Drive, take the off-ramp to Parkes Way and merge onto Tuggeranong Parkway
- Northbound from Molonglo Valley: From John Gorton Drive, turn onto Cotter Road, then follow the ramp onto Tuggeranong Parkway and take the left exit at Glenloch interchange to merge onto William Hovell Drive.
“As it is the first week of school, the road will re‑open by 3 pm to better support increased school pick‑up activity and afternoon commuter traffic,” an Infrastructure Canberra statement outlined.
“Further closures will be required later in the year, and the community will be kept informed once dates are finalised.”
February and March will also bring the construction of the bridge deck over Parkes Way for light rail stage 2A.
Temporary road and lane closures will be in place along sections of Commonwealth Avenue and Parkes Way for the next two months.
“With multiple construction activities underway, works have been organised and scheduled to minimise the number of closures required, and closures will take place on nights and weekends where possible to reduce the impact on Canberra’s traffic network.”
Commonwealth Avenue closures
Weather permitting, the northbound ramp to Parkes Way westbound will be closed from 8 pm Friday (6 February) until 6 am Monday (9 February) for water main pipe installation works.
Detours for road traffic will be via Vernon Circle and Edinburgh Avenue, while pedestrians and cyclists can continue via the Acton Overpass.
The Parkes Way westbound ramp to Commonwealth Avenue southbound will then be closed the following weekend, 8 pm Friday (13 February) to 6 am Monday (16 February).
Southbound traffic can continue via London Circuit East and Commonwealth Avenue, and there will be no impact on pedestrians.
In the event of wet weather, these works will instead take place from 8 pm Friday (20 February) to 6 am Monday (23 February).
Commonwealth Avenue northbound between Parkes Way and Vernon Circle will also be closed from 8 pm on Thursday (12 February) to 6 am on Monday (16 February), and from 8 pm on Friday (26 February) to 6 am on Monday (2 March).
Northbound traffic will detour via Parkes Way on-ramp, to Lawson Crescent exit, Edinburgh Avenue and Vernon Circle.
Southbound will remain open with one lane available, except the night of Thursday, 12 February, and 11:30 pm on Saturday, 28 February, to 6 am on Monday, 2 March.
Pedestrians and cyclists can travel via the shared path over Parkes Way. Buses will be diverted, but no stops will be missed.
Sections of Commonwealth Avenue will be reduced to one lane intermittently in both directions between Parkes Way and Albert Street from Monday to Thursday nights from 8 pm to 6 am, and on weekends from 8 pm, Friday, to 6 am, Monday.
This is to allow for further stormwater works for the light rail network.
Parkes Way road closures
Works are also underway for the new light rail bridge over Parkes Way.
The following closures will be in place so that workers can safely carry out bridge deck pours:
- 8 pm Thursday (26 February) to 6 am Friday (27 February): Commonwealth Avenue will be closed in both directions between Parkes Way and Vernon Circle. Parkes Way westbound will be closed between the Commonwealth Avenue on/off ramps. London Circuit East will be closed in both directions between Commonwealth Avenue and Constitution Avenue.
- 11:30 pm Saturday (28 February) to 6 am Monday (2 March): Commonwealth Avenue will be closed in both directions between Parkes Way and Vernon Circle. Parkes Way eastbound will be closed between Edinburgh Avenue and Coranderrk Street. London Circuit East will be closed in both directions between Commonwealth Avenue and Constitution Avenue.
“These activities build on the major progress achieved in the January ‘construction blitz’ and mark another important step in delivering Canberra’s expanding light rail network,” an Infrastructure Canberra statement outlined.
“These temporary changes will impact how people travel to and around the city, including during major events.
“Road users are encouraged to plan ahead and allow extra travel time, follow all detours and traffic control, and check live travel conditions before travelling.”
Information on travel impacts is available online and the community can register for updates on the light rail project here.
