27 March 2012

Morshead drive gets an on-road path. Speed limit lowered.

| johnboy
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Territory and Municipal Services are advising that they’re putting an on-road path down to make up for the one which dropped into the river during the floods:

“The new arrangement will allow cyclists and pedestrians to safely detour around the closed Molonglo Reach path which was damaged in recent flooding. This section will be protected by traffic barriers,” Director, Roads ACT, Tony Gill said today.

“Given the work will also involve the narrowing of road lanes to allow for the safety barriers, the speed limit on Morshead Drive (westbound) from Staff Cadet Avenue in Duntroon to Russell Drive in Russell will be reduced to 60 kilometres per hour.

“I urge motorists to be patient during these temporary road measures as there will be some traffic delays especially in the morning peak period. Motorists should consider seeking an alternative route where possible.

“In addition to providing safe passage for users, this temporary on-road path installation will allow permanent works to proceed. Currently public consultation is underway to determine opinions on the proposed use of the former Belconnen Way pedestrian bridge.

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screaming banshee10:52 pm 20 Apr 12

Yes, now they both say SLOW DOWN.

80kph it is then

screaming banshee said :

I’ll gladly refer to sgt bungers expertise but driving through I’ve noticed the only thing advising a 60kph limit is the variable message trailer thingy, I don’t believe that’s a legally recognised speed sign.

Funny you say that. I’ve noticed that this week the sign has been inactive (for whatever reason), and neither of the other two signs provide an guidance as to the speed limit. So unless I’m missing hidden 60km/h signs, there’s absolutely nothing to indicate the current limit on that stretch is anything but 80km/h.

As milkman suggested though, there didn’t appear to be any change in driver behaviour anyway.

screaming banshee said :

I’ll gladly refer to sgt bungers expertise but driving through I’ve noticed the only thing advising a 60kph limit is the variable message trailer thingy, I don’t believe that’s a legally recognised speed sign.

Don’t worry, most of the traffic goes through there at 70-80km/h anyway.

screaming banshee8:47 pm 06 Apr 12

I’ll gladly refer to sgt bungers expertise but driving through I’ve noticed the only thing advising a 60kph limit is the variable message trailer thingy, I don’t believe that’s a legally recognised speed sign.

TAMSMediaRoom3:19 pm 03 Apr 12

KB1971 said :

Well I rode this at lunch time. Not as much encroacment on the road as I would have thought, basically they are running a new path on the curb off the road surface & the barriers are butted up against the gutter so basically it is the width of the barrier that drivers have to contend with. Not bad considering the width of the road there.

Riders be careful though, it is dirt so being able to keep a reasonable speed on a decent roadie with 110psi tyres is out. All hybrids/crossover & MTB’s will be fine. The guys were still working on it so I stopped an asked if it was going to be sealed & I got a very unconvincing “I think so”.

Time will tell I guess but for all concerned, drivers & riders alike, it isnt a bad solution.

The approaches to the new on-road path on Morshead Drive will be sealed by the end of May. Additional works, including the sealing of the on-road section of the path, will be completed by the end of June.

Well, I drove through there this morning in peak hour, and the traffic slowed a little bit, but it was barely noticable. I was worried it would be first gear for 10 mins, but thankfully it was no problem.

The road might be sitting on bedrock….but the bedrock is siting on thin air at the moment!

OpenYourMind4:54 pm 02 Apr 12

Russ said :

KB1971 said :

Time will tell I guess but for all concerned, drivers & riders alike, it isnt a bad solution.

Just keep in mind that last time I checked, they’d done nothing to address the river undercutting the base of the wall supporting that path, so cyclists will actually be kind of canaries – if they suddenly start vanishing midway along the path they’ll know there’s a problem with the retaining wall.

Apparently the road itself is sitting on bedrock.

KB1971 said :

Time will tell I guess but for all concerned, drivers & riders alike, it isnt a bad solution.

Just keep in mind that last time I checked, they’d done nothing to address the river undercutting the base of the wall supporting that path, so cyclists will actually be kind of canaries – if they suddenly start vanishing midway along the path they’ll know there’s a problem with the retaining wall.

Well I rode this at lunch time. Not as much encroacment on the road as I would have thought, basically they are running a new path on the curb off the road surface & the barriers are butted up against the gutter so basically it is the width of the barrier that drivers have to contend with. Not bad considering the width of the road there.

Riders be careful though, it is dirt so being able to keep a reasonable speed on a decent roadie with 110psi tyres is out. All hybrids/crossover & MTB’s will be fine. The guys were still working on it so I stopped an asked if it was going to be sealed & I got a very unconvincing “I think so”.

Time will tell I guess but for all concerned, drivers & riders alike, it isnt a bad solution.

bitzermaloney11:17 am 28 Mar 12

qbngeek said :

Wait for it……

Here comes all the whingers complaining about how much their lives are affected and how the world is going to grind to a halt because they have to slow down by 20km/h for a few hundred metres and that it costs them $44 billion a year in lost productivity.

This place is so predictable sometimes.

Ever driven through the are during peak hour, wet weather, behind a hire car fmo the airport, any day ending in ‘Y” and you’ll know that 98% of cars go 60 (at the most) through the area anyway. The 2% exception appear to be taxis and/or chauffeur heading straight to APH (usualy at 10am on sitting days).

Sgt.Bungers said :

I have updated a map of speed limits in the area to include the new 60 limit:

http://actroads.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/CampbellRussellMarch2012.jpg

Double post… my bad 🙂

I have updated a map of speed limits in the area to include the new 60 limit:

http://actroads.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/CampbellRussellMarch2012.jpg

I have updated a map of all speed limits in that area to include the new 60 speed limit.

http://actroads.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/CampbellRussellMarch2012.jpg

wildturkeycanoe said :

What other alternative routes are there that don’t slow to 60km/h? The only other options are Canberra Ave through Barton or the slow road to Limestone. ‘Tis another GDE moment about to explode in our faces, where a quick easy fix will turn into a drawn out and overpriced piece of “art” whilst the government chews through the expensive red tape.

It just grates on you doesnt it?

arescarti42 said :

damien haas said :

For some reason the road out Queanbeyan from Canberra Ave has been lowered from 100 to 80 kmh.

I think you have Sgt.Bungers to thank for that.

No, I think you will find that you have the roads standards to thank for that. Besides I am not really sure why it is that much of an issue. Makes no difference to everyday life when you drive up there at 80km/h instead of 100km/h.

qbngeek said :

Wait for it……

Here comes all the whingers complaining about how much their lives are affected and how the world is going to grind to a halt because they have to slow down by 20km/h for a few hundred metres and that it costs them $44 billion a year in lost productivity.

This place is so predictable sometimes.

Nah, all the attention is on footpaths in Ainslie ATM…….

wildturkeycanoe5:26 am 28 Mar 12

What other alternative routes are there that don’t slow to 60km/h? The only other options are Canberra Ave through Barton or the slow road to Limestone. ‘Tis another GDE moment about to explode in our faces, where a quick easy fix will turn into a drawn out and overpriced piece of “art” whilst the government chews through the expensive red tape.

goggles13 said :

qbngeek said :

Wait for it……

Here comes all the whingers complaining about how much their lives are affected and how the world is going to grind to a halt because they have to slow down by 20km/h for a few hundred metres and that it costs them $44 billion a year in lost productivity.

This place is so predictable sometimes.

really depends on how temporary this arrangement is

The issue is not having to slow down, but rather whether the works turn that section of road from a 70km/h cruise in traffic to a first gear nightmare (like pretty much every other bit of roadwork around the place).

keepitup said :

“Currently public consultation is underway . . . ” Where can I have my say? I think that using the Belco bridge is a great idea, and I regularly ride around the lake but the NCA has made no effort to seek my opinion.

Yeah don’t get it, seems pretty uncontroversial to me, just slows everything down.

Blame the government. Maybe if they had tended to the cycle path when it first started to fall in to the river 12+ months ago, it would still be there and the cyclists would still be on it, instead of on the road.

damien haas said :

For some reason the road out Queanbeyan from Canberra Ave has been lowered from 100 to 80 kmh.

I think you have Sgt.Bungers to thank for that.

qbngeek said :

This place is so predictable sometimes.

or not…

For some reason the road out Queanbeyan from Canberra Ave has been lowered from 100 to 80 kmh.

“Currently public consultation is underway . . . ” Where can I have my say? I think that using the Belco bridge is a great idea, and I regularly ride around the lake but the NCA has made no effort to seek my opinion.

qbngeek said :

Wait for it……

Here comes all the whingers complaining about how much their lives are affected and how the world is going to grind to a halt because they have to slow down by 20km/h for a few hundred metres and that it costs them $44 billion a year in lost productivity.

This place is so predictable sometimes.

really depends on how temporary this arrangement is

I had to ride that bit yesterday after dropping my car of in Fyshwick for servicing. The stretch of Morsehead Drive between RMC and Russell is lethal for cyclists.

The sooner this is done the better.

Wait for it……

Here comes all the whingers complaining about how much their lives are affected and how the world is going to grind to a halt because they have to slow down by 20km/h for a few hundred metres and that it costs them $44 billion a year in lost productivity.

This place is so predictable sometimes.

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