Advocates say key projects missing from $10m boost to Canberra's road safety system

Improving road safety for vehicles, bikes and pedestrians: that’s the aim of a $10 million funding boost for Canberra’s network.

The 50:50 jointly-funded investment from the ACT Government and Commonwealth stems from the national Road Safety Program and will go towards 18 projects specifically chosen to address road safety concerns.

Projects that have made the cut include the Lake Burley Griffin cycling circuit at Alexandrina Drive, Yarralumla; safety barriers and speed reductions on Brindabella Road; safety improvements for schools in Kambah, Watson and Palmerston; and pedestrian safety improvements for the bus stops at the Torrens shops.

City Services Minister Tara Cheyne said the focus was on “lifesaving measures” that would especially improve safety for vulnerable users.

“We’ve looked across the ACT at the data, the crash history, and also the anecdotal feedback we hear from the community about their perceptions of safety issues that might mean people are reluctant to travel through an area,” she said.

One project that will take a chunk of the money is the second stage of the Kingston Cycleway through the foreshore and to the train station.

The first stage on Bowen Drive opened earlier this year and has already proven popular with pedestrians and cyclists.

“We’re making it safer for pedestrians, making it safer for our cyclists, and making it an area that’s already attractive for use even more attractive, no matter how they’re moving through the area,” Ms Cheyne said.

Construction on the second stage is expected to begin by the end of the year.

The active travel aspects of the funding boost have been particularly welcomed by local advocacy group, Pedal Power.

Board president David Whitney said the focus on safety around schools had been a particular concern.

“Research highlights that the unhealthy mix of motor vehicles and children is a critical barrier to people choosing active travel,” he said.

The continuation of the dedicated cycle lane in Kingston was a big tick, along with planned safety upgrades for Jamison.

But Mr Whitney said there were some glaring omissions from the project list.

“Northbourne Avenue is in desperate need of safety improvement as it has repeatedly been shown to be the most dangerous road for cyclists in Canberra. It is very disappointing to not see it mentioned here,” he said.

“We are alarmed that Hindmarsh Drive from Woden to Fyshwick is not mentioned given the recent advice from the ACT Government to remove the current cycle lane, with no alternate route for cyclists wishing to link between these two busy town centres.”

The funded projects are:

• Telopea Park Crossing (NSW Crescent on southwest point into Telopea Park)
• Lake Burley Griffin Cycling Circuit (Alexandrina Drive, Yarralumla)
• Bauhinia Drive, O’Connor (raised pedestrian crossing)
• Hopetoun Circuit/Adelaide Avenue on-ramp (blister islands and path network improvements)
• Wentworth Avenue (C2 – City to Queanbeyan Link)
• Bowman Street, Jamison (pedestrian/cyclist treatments)
• Beasley Street, Torrens Shops (pedestrian safety improvements to bus stops)
• Brindabella Road (safety barriers and speed reductions)
• Long Gully Road (audio tactile line marking and safety barriers)
• Boboyan Road (safety barriers and speed reductions)
• Kings Highway (safety barriers and delivering Australian National Risk Assessment Model)
• Bugden Avenue (local area traffic management from North to South Castleton Crescent)
• Horse Park Drive/Burrumarra Avenue/Whitrod Avenue (roundabout improvements)
• Kambah West school safety improvements (Boddington Crescent and O’Halloran Circuit)
• Kambah East school safety improvements (Marconi Crescent, Summerland Circuit, Livingston Avenue, Mannheim Street)
• Watson school safety improvements (Antill, Knox and Aspinall streets)
• Palmerston school safety improvements (Kosciusko Avenue)
• Various sites for audio tactile line marking (ATLM) and speed reduction measures

It’s expected about 30 jobs will be supported by this cash injection; all projects will be delivered by 30 June, 2025.

Federal Assistant Infrastructure and Transport Minister Carol Brown said road safety was a critical issue and reducing the road toll and injuries from crashes was a key goal.

“Investing in roads and roads infrastructure is an important part of the solution, but it’s not the only part of the solution,” she said.

“We need all road users to decide that road safety is their priority.”