Upgrading Athllon Drive was also promised by ACT Labor in the lead-up to the 2020 election. Photo: Google Maps.
The ACT Government has pledged to commence work on widening Athllon Drive in Tuggeranong within “the coming months”.
The project, first promised in 2016, would see the duplication of 2.4 kilometres of the well-used road between Sulwood Drive and Drakeford Drive.
The announcement was greeted with cynicism by the Canberra Liberals, opposition by the Greens, and concern by a cycling advocacy group, which claimed that duplication would increase traffic congestion.
“For decades now, every time a road gets widened, traffic begets traffic,” said Paris Lord, a spokesman for Canberra by Bike.
“Instead of giving people options, they’ll be a short-term sugar hit. Within two years, the traffic will be back. Then the engineers will say, let’s rinse, repeat and widen the road further.”
The Greens agreed, saying they wouldn’t proceed with the duplication if they were in charge.
“This project is now slated to cost around $93 million, already a big increase from the estimate of $75 million in 2020,” Brindabella MLA Laura Nuttall said.
“For that kind of money, there’s a lot we could do in Tuggeranong, like put on more frequent buses, build public housing, support more GPs to give free appointments, upgrade local shops and give some TLC to the roads and footpaths we already have.
“Road duplications are expensive, they encourage more driving, and they don’t cut congestion. As a society, we need to be investing in public and active transport to cut emissions and make it easier to get around Canberra without being trapped into the expense of having a car.”
According to the government, the first works on the project will include relocating overhead electricity cables, water and sewer works, new walking and cycling path connections, path widening and new lighting.
The northern section of the duplication “will also commence in the coming year”, with the construction of a widened intersection at Shea Street in Phillip to support access to the future Woden Bus Depot.
“The duplication of Athllon Drive will improve safety for motorists, walkers and cyclists alike and result in a smoother, safer and faster journey from Tuggeranong to Woden,” Minister for City Services Tara Cheyne said.
Mr Lord isn’t convinced by the promise of more cycle lanes.
“They are on-road cycle lanes, which are dangerous. Apart from confident, able-bodied white men, most people aren’t going to want to ride there.
“All that ever happens when you add more roads is that it will induce congestion”.
Nicole Lawder: “After working hard to do nothing for eight years on the duplication of Athllon Drive, the government is finally going to make it look like they are doing something.” Photo: Michelle Kroll.
According to the Liberals’ Nicole Lawder, Shadow Minister for City Services, Mr Lord has nothing to worry about.
“It must be an election year,” she observed.
“After working hard to do nothing for eight years on the duplication of Athllon Drive, the government is finally going to make it look like they are doing something. Of course, they did put up a great big sign about it years ago.
“This government has been all talk and no action on Athllon Drive. Except a sudden flurry of announcements and great big signs before each election.”
The ACT Government says it will invest $8.6 million as part of a 50:50 funding agreement with the Australian Government to commence works on Athllon Drive.
The road extends south from Woden through Mawson and Wanniassa to Tuggeranong. Two rapid bus routes, cyclists and nearly 2000 vehicles use this road every hour during peak periods.
Design work will also commence on future road improvements in Gungahlin, including possible road widening and intersection upgrades, following the finalisation of the Gungahlin Transport Plan later this year.
In the coming financial year, the Budget commits additional funding to complete the Beltana Road Upgrade in Pialligo and Gundaroo Drive Duplication in Belconnen.
“As Canberra’s population nears half a million people, we are getting on with the job of building our city’s future,” Chief Minister Andrew Barr said.
“The investment in road and active travel projects in the 2024-25 Budget continues a program of investment in the services and infrastructure our city needs.”
Mr Lord said it’s taken us on the wrong path.
“Canberra listened to the Americans in the 1950s and 1960s, so we have entrenched car dependence,” he said.
“We constantly build for traffic and all we get is more traffic … reinforcing car primacy means everyone loses.”
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