The Greens are breaking out the bubbly as their efforts to make general society more like high school pass another important milestone.
“The previous system of traffic fine administration was described by the courts as a ‘sledgehammer approach’. There was no flexibility for payments, and failure to pay a parking or traffic fine in time meant [...]

Running a local news website really lets one know just how much people care about roads.
And let me tell you it’s more than they care about anything else.
So Zed Seselja’s probably onto a winner with a roads roads roads approach:
The Canberra Liberals will raise the state of ACT roads as a matter of public [...]

Chief MInister Gallagher has put her Mayor’s hat on to let it be known what she’s got planned for the roads:
“Local contractor Guideline ACT was recently awarded the $1.3m contract for the upgrade of the Southern Cross Drive and Florey Drive intersection in Belconnen, with works expected to commence this month.
“The project will improve traffic [...]

Territory and Municipal Services have a note on West Macgregor intersection upgrades.
Due to the projected increased construction costs for the protection and relocation of services on Southern Cross Drive, the upgrade of the Starke Street intersection will not be taking place.
Through the investigation of the proposed intersection upgrade options, it was identified [...]

So it seems like in the Government’s infinite wisdom, that they have decreased the speed limit on William Hovell Dve east of the Interchange, from 90kmh to 80kmh.
Now, that by itself is annoying an perplexing, however, just a short distance east, on Parkes Way, the limit is still 90kmh – on what can only be [...]

Spurred by a related thread, it is apparent that little thought (or even malevolent thought) has been applied to the phasing of these devices. There is no doubt these lights are linked, as the results are always the same.
I have a couple of favourites. Traffic turning right from Yamba Drive heading north into Hindmarsh heading [...]

There is quite a bit of planning that goes in to lighting a road tunnel, you see the aim is to ensure that drivers approaching the tunnel have sufficient visibility so as to avoid potential obstacles both on the entrance and exit of the tunnel.
During the daytime this requires quite a bit of [...]

Territory and Municipal Services have released what they’re going to do with $42 million from the Federales as a Centenary gift.
In celebration of the Centenary of Canberra in 2013, the Australian Government has gifted $42 million to the ACT Government for the upgrade of Constitution Avenue. The upgrade project will deliver major transport infrastructure improvements [...]

Simon Corbell is celebrating a rolling year since Canberra’s last road fatali. Simon credits RAPID for the change, which certainly has the capacity to remove the threat posed by the worst of the worst:
“There are many factors which have contributed towards this result, including, increased driver awareness, advances in technology and increased police patrols targeting [...]

The bus lane on Flemington Road is now open.
6:22am Monday 5 March 2012
[Courtesy ESA]
UPDATE 05/03/12 10:38: Territory and Municipal Services have resumed control and posted a new list of closures:
The ACT Government wishes to advise motorists and other road users that the Wheeler Crescent and McBryde Crescent intersection in Wanniassa is closed due to a [...]

Hello all,
Time for a rant. This time it’s about dangerously nervous drivers on our roads when it’s raining. Why is it that whenever it rains people seem to drop to 10 – 15kmph under the limit in the right hand lane? This has to stop. Any of you numpties reading this – next time it’s [...]

Chief Minister Gallagher has announced she’s calling for tenders to widen Parkes Way from the Glenlock Interchange to Edinburgh Avenue.
The Parkes Way widening project, which is due to commence in May 2012, will see the construction of a third lane in each direction from Glenloch Interchange to Edinburgh Avenue.
“This is a great project set [...]

At the last election 5% of the population voted for the Australian Motorists Party and for no one else at all.
The Liberals appear determined to at least get second preferences from One Nation on Wheels voters and so today we have Vicki Dunne weeping for the commuters of West Belconnen.
The car park that is William [...]

The Liberals’ Zed Seselja has announced he’d make the Barry Drive bus lane a T2 if he gets elected.
“The Canberra Liberals will move to open this lane to T2 Traffic, that is all vehicles with two or more passengers on board. The infrastructure is there, but we don’t use it. It will cost nothing, and [...]

Rioters may remember the storm in a tea cup when the “Feel the Power” ACT license plates were first rolled out. Opponents said that the plates would likely invoke a spate of road rage incidents due to their overtly testosterone soaked sentiment, especially when ACT residents were driving interstate. Ultimately, as most controversies do, the [...]

Who is it in ACT roads that comes up with new road designs? Drove through Molonglo the other day along Cotter Road to discover that the alignment has changed and it now heads through the middle of the two new suburbs of Wright and Coombs towards Uriarra road. To get to the Cotter and suburbs [...]

The ACT has remained the only jurisdiction in Australia to record zero road deaths over the Christmas-New Year period.
Acting Superintendent of Traffic Operations Jeff Knight said this is a pleasing result for police and the community as a whole, following on from recording the lowest road toll in more than 50 years in the [...]

Skidbladnir has sent in this marvel of civil engineering one of the over passes on Tom Roberts Ave in Conder, just near St Clare of Assisi School.
Got an image of Canberra you want to share with the world? Email it to images@the-riotact.com .

Thanks to Erg0 who’s pointed out that back in 2007 Auto Express magazine listed Canberra’s own State Circle as one of the worst intersections in the world.
Admittedly coming in 11th of 11.
But is it really that bad? I can’t say I’ve ever had any trouble with it.

Territory And Municipal Services are warning that Springvale Drive in Hawker is going down for stormwater works.
The ACT Government wishes to advise motorists and other road users that Springvale Drive will be closed between Belconnen Way and the northern end of Hawker Place from 6 am on Saturday 19 November 2011 until 6 pm on [...]

Territory And Municipal Services are warning that they’re permanently closing Vanitys Crossing way out in the mountains to protect water quality:
“TAMS’ decision to permanently close Vanity’s Crossing follows advice from ActewAGL and is a precautionary measure to reduce the risk of contamination or an event which would make the Cotter Reservoir unusable as a source [...]

Territory And Municipal Services inform us that the completion of the GDE means they are going to put the bus lane back on Adelaide Avenue:
With the Gungahlin Drive Extension (GDE) now fully open to traffic, the T2 transit lane on Adelaide Avenue between Melrose Drive and State Circle will be returned for use as a [...]

Katie Gallagher made an extraordinary statement on 666 this morning, in the course of a discussion of discontent about the 80km speed limit on the GDE.
Katie made it clear that she thinks 80kph is too low. When it was pointed out by the 666 presenter that the ACT Government had made a commitment to [...]

It’s confused me justy recently that working in the construction industry where you are “around machinery” or hazardous areas hi-vis wear is mandatory. However, numerous times now I have seen Police standing in the middle of the road handing out fines in 80 km/hr areas. I called up the Police enquries, because if you didn’t [...]

Simon Corbell has announced the official opening of the Gungahlin Drive Extension after many false dawns.
“The nine kilometre, four-lane GDE will significantly reduce north-south traffic congestion during peak periods. It will play a crucial role in reducing journey times for trips to and from Gungahlin. It will also help to relieve congestion on other arterial [...]

Hi all
Just wanted to share some thoughts on what can be only described as shenanigans which happens from time to time  on the corner of Drakeford & Athlon drive Tuggeranong.
The offending parties involved are drivers who try  to get into the two right turning lanes on drakford drive and then turn right at the lights [...]

Territory And Municipal Services advise they’ve closed Angle Crossing due to flooding.

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This morning we posted Ralpho’s disgust with the new traffic lights on the Barton Highway at the Kuringa Drive intersection.
This afternoon Territory And Municipal Services have announced they’ve turned the lights off:
“Works have been underway for several months at the intersection of Barton Highway and Kuringa Drive to provide road access into the [...]

The National Capital Authority has proudly announced they’ve won a Engineering Excellence Award (Canberra Division) for their project management of the Kings Avenue overpass.
The recently opened Kings Avenue overpass was honoured for engineering excellence and design ingenuity at an Engineers Australia awards ceremony in Canberra last night.
Regional Australia Minister Simon Crean today congratulated the [...]

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Ellenborough Street is one of the major exits from Kaleen. Before the Barton Highway upgrade we used to be able to turn right from the slip lane from Ellenborough St onto the Barton Hwy but, since that right turn disappeared, if we want to head north on the Federal Hwy, [...]

New traffic lights + Barton Hwy / Kuringa Dr roadworks = more ACT Roads incompetence

I was driving North on Northbourne Ave yesterday towards the Dickson intersection at 2.45pm. There was a fairly long line of cars in the lane to turn right into Antil St, so I decided to go straight instead. As I approached the red lights, I noticed the bus driver getting out of his bus. I [...]