The trees will stay, but there’ll be new garden beds and many other features as part of trendy Braddon’s streetscape upgrade. Image: ACT Government.
A makeover of Braddon’s streetscape will begin later this month, with the City Renewal Authority (CRA) hoping it will “encourage more people to enjoy the array of retail shops, cafes, bars and restaurants” in the hip inner suburb.
Local construction company Guideline ACT will set to work on the first of four stages of redevelopment at the Cooyong end of Lonsdale Street on Tuesday, 30 May.
Over the next year and a half, the intersections at either end of Lonsdale Street will be upgraded with landscaped pedestrian crossings, and all the footpaths in between widened and given new paving, improved lighting, more bike racks, bins, garden beds and urban art.
For motorists, there will be more “traffic-calming measures” but the speed limit will remain 40 km/h.
CRA Acting CEO Craig Gillman describes it as an “exciting milestone”.
“From landscaping and street furniture to better pram and wheelchair access, the upgrades will encourage more people to enjoy Braddon’s array of retail shops, cafes, bars and restaurants,” he says.
“We have worked closely with the community to make sure the upgrades are in keeping with the suburb’s eclectic character Canberrans know and love.”
The project was first floated in the Braddon Place Plan, developed by the CRA and the local community over 2018 and 2019.
Pedestrians are king in the new designs for Braddon. Image: ACT Government.
This 76-page design brief set out “short, medium and long-term actions for government, businesses, landowners and the community to improve the experience of Braddon and further strengthen its popularity”.
In mid-2022, the trees along Lonsdale Street’s median strip were rigged with decorative lighting.
The current project, with a $4 million budget, will go on to add more informal gathering spaces and outdoor dining opportunities to the street, as well as upgrade the intersection of Mort and Elourera streets.
Stage 1 includes new median works at the Cooyong end of Lonsdale Street, with completion pencilled in for late August 2023.
Stages 2 and 3 will feature mid-block pedestrian crossings south of the ”rainbow roundabout” and two new pedestrian crossings for the Girrawheen Street intersection, including one connecting Haig Park.
Stage 4 will then add another new mid-block pedestrian crossing north of the rainbow roundabout. There will also be improved connections with the City Centre, Haig Park and light rail.
The overall project – including consultation, design and construction of the Mort Street-Elouera Street intersection upgrade – is expected to be completed in 2024.
Check out the full designs on the YourSay Conversations website.
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