An aerial shot of the Mt Taylor car park and the intersection of Sulwood Drive and Mannheim Street, Kambah. Photo: ACT Government.
The recently upgraded Mt Taylor car park in Kambah is to be extended, including a new gravel section and pedestrian and cycle links, according to an ACT Government tender for a feasibility study and design options.
The project will also include a feasibility study for a safe dedicated right turn into the car park on Sulwood Drive and a new shared path along Sulwood Drive between Drakeford Drive and Athllon Drive.
Major Projects Canberra is also seeking design options for turning and slip lanes on the southern verge, widening the pavement on the southern side of Sulwood Drive at the two-access point to the car park area near Mannheim Street to improve safe turning exits, and potential construction of a median traffic island to provide a two-stage pedestrian crossing of Sulwood Drive near the intersection with Mannheim Street.
The 4 km shared path would provide an east-west connection between two existing cycle routes following Drakeford Drive and Athllon Drive.
It was originally proposed as part of a $5.8 million joint Labor package during last year’s Federal election campaign.
A map of the proposed path, provided during last year’s election campaign. Image: ACT Government.
The successful tenderer will be required to investigate and assess the condition of the intersections, undertake a traffic analysis, recommend development options, and develop and finalise designs.
The Mt Taylor Nature Reserve is an increasingly popular walking and cycling destination, attracting 4,000 visitors a month, and the car park has been a safety concern for years, particularly as traffic increased on Sulwood Drive.
In 2017, Liberal MLA Mark Parton, a regular visitor, called for government action to make it safer. Local Labor MLAs Chris Steel and Bec Cody also sponsored petitions to the Legislative Assembly.
Last year, the ACT Government spent $200,000 formalising the ad hoc parking arrangement on the verge, providing a marked asphalt source, defined entry and exit points, and new kerb barriers.
The government said at the time it would continue to monitor traffic conditions at the car park and flagged further works to make it even safer.
This year it also installed a solar-powered CCTV camera in the car park in response to reports of car theft and vandalism.
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