Plans to raise London Circuit have been approved by the National Capital Authority (NCA), allowing work on the project to commence.
Announced by Chief Minister, Andrew Barr, the raising of London Circuit is needed to form an at-grade intersection with Commonwealth Avenue in readiness for the extension of light rail to the south.
“The project is a step forward in bringing the city and the lake closer,” Mr Barr said.
“It will support many of the additional infrastructure commitments the ACT Government has planned in the city centre, including the extension of the light rail network to Woden, the renewal of the Canberra Theatre precinct and the Acton Park boardwalk,” he said.
Minister for Transport, Chris Steel said the raising of London Circuit was a key supporting piece of infrastructure for Stage 2 of light rail to Woden, which was to deliver better public transport to Canberra’s southside.
“This major piece of supporting infrastructure will allow light rail to travel from London Circuit on to Commonwealth Avenue,” Mr Steel said.
“The works will include new pedestrian footpath links and dedicated cycle lanes,” he said.
“Raising London Circuit will turn a busy and hard-to-navigate road interchange into a more people-friendly place for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport.”
Mr Steel said around 60,000 cubic metres of fill will be used to raise the current road to form an at-grade intersection with Commonwealth Avenue.
The Minister said two of the existing cloverleaf ramps would also be removed, with access routes via Edinburgh Avenue and Constitution Avenue channelling traffic to the City’s west and east.
He said the installation of traffic lights on the Parkes Way roundabout at Coranderrk Street to help improve traffic flow in and around the city during the London Circuit works had also been approved by the NCA.
