Captains Flat Road will receive a $10 million upgrade as part of the capital works program in the Queanbeyan-Palerang region. Photo: Supplied.
The long and winding Captains Flat Road will receive a much-needed $10 million upgrade as part of a $140 million capital works program in the Queanbeyan-Palerang region.
The upgrade will come as good news to Captains Flat residents who have shared the 37-kilometre stretch of road with trucks and school buses while making the commute to Queanbeyan or Canberra.
The NSW Government’s economic stimulus fund will pick up the bill for the upgrade, with funds phased over a four-year period for various sections of the road. Construction will commence later this year, while initial investigations are expected to begin in the next few weeks.
The first phase, costing $1 million, will allow planning and design, with further funds earmarked for realignment and pavement upgrades to the Woolcara Curves, Railway Crossing, Foxlow Bends, Silver Hills Bridge to Sinclair Rd section, plus drainage improvements and guardrail replacements for the 50 to 80 km/h zone.
Some land acquisitions and floodplain studies will also take place.
Queanbeyan-Palerang councillor and Captains Flat resident Peter Marshall said the upgrade will greatly improve the safety of the road while reducing the barrier residents face when making the regular commute to Queanbeyan or Canberra.
“I know some residents are reluctant to go out of the town because of the safety issues associated with the road, especially at night,” Cr Marshall said.
“The coach that takes kids to school in Queanbeyan and Canberra barely fits on some sections of the road, while cars also have to compete with logging trucks.
“We’ll never have all the services of a major town, but having a better road that connects us is definitely an improvement.”
The Braidwood Pool will also be upgraded as part of the capital works program. Photo: File.
Other areas included in the 2021-22 Operational Plan include the sealing of Nerriga Road and further upgrades to the Braidwood Pool, while four timber bridges at Brick Kiln Lane, Foxlow Street, Wallaces Gap and River Forest Road will be replaced with safer, concrete bridges.
In Queanbeyan, the Queanbeyan Civic and Cultural Precinct will rise from the council’s former administration building in Crawford Street after years of planning, while the much-anticipated upgrade of Monaro Street will also begin.
Other projects include:
- Commencing construction of Stage 1 of the Regional Sports Complex at Jerrabomberra
- Finalising construction of Stage 1 of the Bungendore Sports Hub
- New playground for Bungendore
- Relocation of Council’s Bungendore office
- Planning for a decked car park in the Morisset car park in Queanbeyan, and
- Finalising designs and planning for the upgrade of the Queanbeyan Sewage Treatment Plant.
Queanbeyan-Palerang Mayor Cr Tim Overall said the capital works program heralded a significant period for the local government area.
“The majority of the capital works program will be funded from grants, reserves and loans, with a significant program of works scheduled within our water and sewer businesses to ensure we can continue to provide reliable service to our residents,” Cr Overall said.
However, Cr Overall said the council had flagged more than $2 million worth of projects that may be removed from the budget because of a $6.5 million deficit in its general fund, due mainly to the impact of COVID-19 and natural disasters in the past 18 months.
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