Work is expected to begin next year on stage two of the duplication of Gundaroo Drive between Gungahlin Drive and the Barton Highway following a funding allocation by the ACT Government.
The ACT 2017-18 Budget will commit $30 million over three years for work on the duplication as part of a roads upgrade package.
ACT Minister for Transport and City Services, Meegan Fitzharris, said the package will fund significant upgrades to major thoroughfares, as well as intersection upgrades and feasibility studies for future works.
“This $43 million roads upgrade package provides a significant boost to the world class road network around the Territory, and starts delivering the infrastructure commitments we took to the 2016 election,” Ms Fitzharris said.
“The stage two duplication of Gundaroo Drive between Gungahlin Drive and the Barton Highway is a project that many in the Gungahlin community have been asking for and I’m glad we can deliver on this commitment in the 2017/18 Budget.
“An additional 2.6 kilometres of Gundaroo Drive will be duplicated to a dual carriageway, extending the duplication works currently underway between Gungahlin Drive and Mirrabei Drive.
“The Government is also planning for the future needs of our city, and we have identified future roads works related to the Canberra Brickworks and the Molonglo developments that need the groundwork done now to ensure we can get the work done quickly when the projects are funded in future budgets.”
“We are also conscious of population increases in the Belconnen area – and have invested in design works on the Bindubi Street Extension and the William Hovell Drive upgrades.”
Ms Fitzharris said an extra $2.8 million in funding would also be allocated in the upcoming ACT Budget to upgrade the Gundaroo Drive and Mirrabei Drive intersection. This is an extension of the stage one Gundaroo Drive duplication which is already under way.
She said that the roundabout at this intersection will be replaced with traffic lights in order to improve the safety of pedestrians and cyclists trying to cross Gundaroo Drive, Mirrabei Drive and Anthony Rolfe Avenue.
A total of $1.2 million in funding will also be allocated in next month’s ACT Budget to upgrade the intersection of the Federal Highway and Old Wells Station Road. Funds will be used to design and construct a new four-way signalised intersection aimed at providing safe access to the new Canberra Park Resort tourist facility and events held at Exhibition Park.
Ms Fitzharris said that the roads upgrade package comes on top of $2.9 billion infrastructure investment in last year’s Budget, which is currently rolling out across Canberra.
“The 2017-18 ACT Budget will see the Government delivering on the commitments we took to the 2016 election on the areas that matter most to Canberrans,” she said.
Top photo shows (from left to right): Labor Member for Yerrabi, Michael Pettersson, Minister for Transport and City Services, Meegan Fitzharris, and Labor Member for Yerrabi, Suzanne Orr, with a map of stage two of the Gundaroo Drive duplication.
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