Light Rail Stage 2A Works Approval out for comment: see what's new

The light rail extension to Commonwealth Park will include a new bridge over Parkes Way, according to the Works Approval now out for consultation.

The bridge, to be built between the two road spans on Commonwealth Avenue, is one of several new details of the project revealed in the planning documents for Light Rail Stage 2A available on the National Capital Authority website.

Stage 2A is the first step in extending the network south to Woden. It will feature 1.7 kilometres of wire-free track, which will run from the Alinga Street terminus along London Circuit through City West and around the corner onto Commonwealth Avenue.

It will include three new stops at Edinburgh Avenue, City South and Commonwealth Park, and a scissor crossover of tracks to allow light rail vehicles to reverse direction.

The ACT Government has released a fly-through video illustrating what the new light rail stage will look like.

The construction of the new rail bridge over Parkes Way will involve infilling the gap between the two current spans to create a single surface, supported on eight concrete piles and concrete-walled abutments.

New works besides the bridge include landscaping developed with the NCA to retain and strengthen the historic and scenic character of Commonwealth Avenue as a wide tree-lined boulevard consistent with the original designs by the Burley Griffins.

This will include the planting of pin oaks in the Commonwealth Avenue median.

There will also be ‘green tracks’ running along Commonwealth Avenue and Northbourne Place, which involves planting grass or shrubs between and beside the alignment.

Two new signalised intersections on London Circuit at West Row and University Avenue will be built to provide safe and controlled pedestrian and cyclist crossings. In-ground lights in key locations will alert and remind pedestrians to cross light rail tracks safely.

There will be protected cycleways on newly designed intersections at London Circuit and Northbourne Avenue, as well as London Circuit and Commonwealth Avenue, and a cobbled median on London Circuit West will differentiate the light rail corridor from the roadway.

But cycling lobby group Pedal Power ACT has already seen problems with the protected cycle lane stops between University Avenue and Edinburgh Avenue going southwards, and between Edinburgh Avenue and West Row going northwards, which it says will create ‘missing links’ that will stop people from cycling.

It says cyclists will end up riding either on the road or the pedestrian footpath, neither of which are safe outcomes.

Pedal Power ACT executive director Simon Copland urged the government to extend the protected cycle lane to run from the London Circuit and Northbourne Avenue intersection down Northbourne Avenue, around Vernon Circle and to the Commonwealth Bridge.

“This would be an extremely valuable piece of cycling infrastructure that would increase connections to the lake,” he said. “Not having this will create further missing links in our system.”

Temporary roads will be built to keep traffic moving during the construction of the new bridge, and intersection closures will be limited to weekends.

A separate Development Application has also been lodged with the ACT Planning Authority and will soon be available for public comment.

Stage 2A is being jointly funded by the Federal and ACT Governments, and it is hoped that the Albanese Government will also come to the party for the longer and much more complex Stage 2B to Woden.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King has indicated that the Commonwealth will continue to back light rail.

“The Albanese Labor Government is committed to delivering this important piece of job-creating, city-shaping infrastructure for our national capital,” she said in a statement marking the start of consultation on the Works Application.

“We’ll continue to have discussions with the ACT Government about how we can support their infrastructure initiatives, to make sure Canberra stays a well-connected, sustainable and vibrant city into the future.”

Transport Minister Chris Steel said work would start on Stage 2A once the Raising London Circuit project now underway was completed.

That project is expected to take two years.

“With the ACT growing faster than any other jurisdiction in the country it is critical that we build this infrastructure now to meet the needs of our city in the decades ahead,” he said.

“The construction of Light Rail Stage 2A will revitalise the southern section of the CBD and improve connections between the city and the lake for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport.

“As we get on with Stage 2A, planning will continue on the future stage to Woden that will link with national institutions, tourist attractions and large employment centres in our city’s south.”

The Public Transport Association of Canberra (PTCBR) welcomed the announcement that the Works Approval has finally been released for public consultation.

“After numerous delays resulting from COVID-19 and negotiations with the NCA, it is fantastic to see this city-shaping project reach such an important milestone,” said PTCBR chair Ryan Hemsley.

“The faster Light Rail Stage 2A is approved, the faster we can deliver the benefits of light rail to Woden, Belconnen, Tuggeranong, Molonglo, Fyshwick, the Airport and beyond.”

Mr Hemsley said successive ACT election results and rebounding patronage following the COVID-19 lockdowns showed there was strong community support for light rail.

“Canberrans have consistently shown their support for light rail, both at the ballot box and with their MyWay cards,” he said.

But the future of light rail will again be clouded by another election campaign, with the Canberra Liberals deciding to take an alternative bus-only public transport plan to the 2024 poll.

To learn more about consultation dates and how to make a submission visit the NCA website and the ACT Government’s Light Rail to Woden website.

The consultation closes at COB on 11 May.