An artist’s impression of how the new Interchange and Woden CIT will look, complete with light rail vehicles. Image: ACT Government.
The ACT Government has promised a greener, safer and passenger-friendly Woden Interchange, with plans lodged for the $35 million project.
The development application details an 18-stop interchange with a central light rail platform on Callum Street, and 35 bus layovers nearby in Easty Street and Launceston Street near Phillip Oval.
As flagged, the light rail station will provide bus stops until the light rail Stage 2B connects to Woden.
Transport and City Services Minister Chris Steel said works will start in the coming months on the bus layovers followed by demolition of the existing interchange and construction of the Callum Street facility in early 2022.
“After 50 years, the Woden Interchange has had its day,” Mr Steel said.
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The project is a precursor to the new CIT complex with which it will be integrated. Mr Steel said the new interchange would be better connected than its predecessor to the Town Centre’s commercial heart and new community facilities.
He said the final design had responded to community calls during consultation for ample protection and shelter from the weather, including green spaces and a safer, better signed and accessible interchange.
Calling the area a concrete jungle, Mr Steel said the project was an opportunity to plant more trees to provide additional canopy cover and landscaping to create a campus feel for the CIT.
The government was also considering a new north-south connection between Bradley Street and Bowe Street to enhance traffic flow.
Transport and City Services Minister Chris Steel and Interchange Operations Manager Michael Scott discuss plans for the new Woden facility. Photo: Ian Bushnell.
Woden Interchange Operations manager Michael Scott, who has been a contributor to the design work, said the new facility would be greener, more open and inviting, and customer friendly.
He said CCTV, better lighting and more visible Transport Canberra staff would mean a safer interchange than the current facility, which has developed a reputation over the years as a place to avoid, especially after dark.
The current unattractive and discouraging facilities would be replaced by an interchange that would afford greater interaction between passengers and Transport Canberra officers, who would be monitoring the platforms so they could deal with anything that might arise.
“The project will deliver more than 520 jobs with local Canberra construction companies, and we’re asking those businesses to register their interest in delivering the transport components.”
Mr Steel said work was proceeding on the CIT project, and he had challenged the architects to come up with a design for a state-of-the-art modern campus.
He would not say when a DA could be expected, but construction is still timed for the latter part of 2022 when the interchange is complete and the site clear for work.
During the consultation period for the interchange, more than 650 conversations with the public were recorded, including 21 in-depth stakeholder briefings, 11 community information pop-ups, 1236 visits to the CIT virtual consultation room and 183 survey responses.
Mr Steel said he expected a smooth transition to the new facility.
The public can comment on this DA until 22 March.
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