The Parkes Way intersection is to be upgraded as part of a plan to improve traffic flows and commute times during the construction of Stage 2 of light rail to Woden.
Announced by Minister for Transport and City Services, Chris Steel, traffic lights are to be added to the Coranderrk Street roundabout on Parkes Way to better regulate traffic flow and improve the capacity of the intersection.
“This will mean it can support the greater volumes of traffic expected during the construction of light rail and the raising of London Circuit,” Mr Steel said.
“This roundabout currently has a dominant westbound flow of traffic in the morning causing major congestion for eastbound traffic coming into the City and the Parliamentary Triangle from areas like Belconnen and Tuggeranong,” he said.
“It is planned the westbound turning lanes at the roundabout would also be extended to provide improved storage capacity at the new lights.”
Mr Steel said the Territory’s Disruption Taskforce had identified the intersection works as a priority to help manage traffic disruption associated with light rail.
The Minister said network analysis indicated that traffic would increase significantly on Parkes Way during the construction of light rail as lane closures and works on Commonwealth Avenue saw vehicles diverted via routes along Kings Avenue, the Tuggeranong Parkway and the Monaro Highway.
“Installing traffic lights to control the westbound right-turn movement from Parkes Way into Coranderrk Street will help cut delays at the intersection for faster and less frustrating commutes,” he said.
“It is estimated an additional 250 eastbound vehicles will be able to exit Parkes Way onto Coranderrk Street to access the City each hour in the morning peak period during construction.”
Mr Steel said this equated to a capacity increase of approximately 20 per cent, from 1,350 to 1,600 vehicles per hour.
“Installing traffic lights and road cameras also means we can monitor the intersection from the ACT’s Traffic Management Centre, so we can adjust the timing of the lights in real time to optimise traffic flow,” he said.
Mr Steel said construction was expected to get underway in the first half of next year and would be timed for completion in parallel with the start of major works to raise London Circuit.
