The $4 million upgrade to Braddon is nearly finished, but there's one issue the locals can't agree on

Major upgrades to Braddon’s centre have drawn to a close with the reopening of the roundabout for Elouera and Mort streets this week, but locals have mixed opinions on what it will mean for businesses in the area.

“We’ve campaigned to have that intersection improved for quite some time,” says Amy Jelacic from the local community group, The Braddon Collective.

“The existing roundabout was encouraging reckless driving, speeding, and lack of attention from drivers in what is a high pedestrian activity area. So we are certainly all really hoping the new design will reduce and ideally eliminate that kind of behaviour from drivers.”

Following upgrades to Lonsdale Street earlier this year – Braddon’s main road and a busy thoroughfare for shoppers – the City Renewal Authority (CRA) has replaced the existing roundabout at the intersection of Elouera and Mort streets with a new “raised intersection”.

The design is in accordance with the ACT Government’s plans for more European-inspired roads, revealed in draft guide form in May last year.

This called for more raised pedestrian crossings, coloured cycle paths, narrower roads and tighter corners to be rolled out across Canberra in an effort to slow down motorists and provide better protections for ‘active travel’ users.

The new intersection is said to “prioritise pedestrian safety and accessibility” between Braddon’s businesses and the Elouera Street light-rail stop. It includes four designated pedestrian crossings, as well as “new paving, enhanced lighting and garden beds”.

The crossing distances have also been reduced in size with wider verges designed to slow down motorists, while the lower garden beds “have also made it easier for motorists to see pedestrians”.

“Through the initial consultation for upgrades on Lonsdale Street, the community made it clear the priorities were improved pedestrian access, traffic calming, and better connections to the Elouera Street light-rail stop,” CRA CEO Craig Gillman said.

“We’ve taken this feedback onboard to deliver an upgrade that improves access for residents and makes it easier for visitors to access Braddon’s renowned retail outlets and hospitality venues.”

More than 260,000 journeys started or ended at the Elouera Street light rail stop last year, according to MyWay data. Mr Gillman said these commuters and visitors will now be able to “enjoy a safer, more convenient connection”.

The ‘Braddon Streetscape Upgrade’ was first floated by the CRA in 2018. It’s estimated to have cost $4 million. The remaining minor works will be completed by the end of this year.

Amy from The Braddon Collective, also a Braddon resident of three years, told Region it’s “great to see the new design principles being applied” but time will tell how on how well they work.

“I think it looks fantastic and a lot more attractive than what was there before,” she said.

All up, 25 car spaces have been removed in favour of larger garden beds and pedestrian crossings, something which has proved polarising for local businesses and visitors to the area.

Amy argues there’s little case for more parking in Braddon on account of a lack of “actual evidence” on how people choose to get there.

“And at the end of the day, count up all the parking spaces along Lonsdale Street: do we really think that number of people is sustaining the businesses on that street?”

But Braddon’s United Retailers & Traders (BURT), headed by Kel Watt, has lobbied on the lack of parking in Braddon since before 2020 and says, “Absolutely, it’s affecting them”.

“Look, I know there’s a big push on active travel, and I love that – I ride my bicycle everywhere and have a scooter – but I do know that in addition to a retail and hospitality sector, Braddon’s built up a bit of health enclave now.

“There’s a geriatrician, there’s a podiatrist, there’s a couple of GPs and a couple of dentists, and you can’t tell someone to park their car at the Canberra Centre and walk their 83-year-old grandmother 700 metres to the geriatrician.”

Kel suggests the parking area behind the Waves Car Wash – “an eyesore at the moment” – be developed into a multistorey car park or at least a mixed-use apartment with basement parking.

While major works are complete and the intersection has reopened, the CRA says minor works will continue around the intersection over the coming months.

Later this year, the Authority will also share concept designs to improve connectivity across Cooyong Street between Civic and Braddon.