9 August 2024

Commonwealth Avenue closure set for mid-August as Woden light rail construction causes disruptions

| Oliver Jacques
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Map for traffic diversions

Commonwealth Avenue closures will see motorists need to take a diversion along Kings Avenue. Photo: ACT Government.

Commonwealth Avenue will be closed to most traffic northbound between State Circle and Parkes Way, and fully closed between Parkes Way and Vernon Circle from 8 pm Friday, 16 August, and 6 am, Monday, 19 August, as part of a raft of traffic disruptions caused by the construction of the light rail network to Woden.

During this weekend, traffic will be detoured from Adelaide Avenue onto State Circle. Motorists will be advised to use Kings Avenue Bridge to cross the lake in the northbound direction using Anzac Parade or Coranderrk Street to access the City. Arrangements will then be made to facilitate traffic coming onto Parkes Way from Kings Avenue Bridge.

Only buses and local traffic for hotels and nearby buildings will have access to Commonwealth Avenue northbound during these works. Traffic controllers will be in place to direct buses and motorists. The ramp from State Circle onto Commonwealth Avenue northbound will also be closed to all traffic.

Motorists are also encouraged to use alternative options such as the Tuggeranong Parkway or the Monaro Highway to travel northbound this weekend.

Those walking or cycling will need to use the shared path along Commonwealth Avenue southbound in both directions across Parkes Way and London Circuit.

Sunny weather is forecast this weekend, meaning these works are likely to go ahead. If work is unable to be completed in this time due to unexpected rain or other circumstances, it will take place in two weeks time between 8pm Friday 23 August and 6am Monday 26 August.

Traffic diverted to temporary road alongside Commonwealth Avenue

A new temporary road has been constructed along the eastern side of Commonwealth Avenue across Parkes Way.

Traffic heading south on Commonwealth Avenue towards the lake will now be diverted onto this new side track.

This temporary road is in addition to the road opened in September 2023 for traffic heading north on Commonwealth Avenue

These temporary roads keep two lanes of traffic in each direction during peak hours.

The next major phase of the Raising London Circuit project will remove the northbound Commonwealth Avenue bridge over London Circuit.

There is a walking and cycling path for cyclists and pedestrians on each temporary side track.

People are asked to follow all road signs and slow down when driving on Commonwealth Avenue between Parkes Way and Vernon Circle.

Diversion map instructions

Commonwealth Avenue diversion.

Pedestrian crossing change at Vernon Circle

One of the pedestrian crossings at the Vernon Circle/Constitution Avenue intersection is temporarily closed. The other will remain open.

This change are intended to improve the flow of traffic turning left onto Vernon Circle from Constitution Avenue.

John Gorton Campus east carpark closed

The John Gorton Campus east carpark, accessed off Dorothy Tangney Place in Parkes has been closed since 17 July 2023.

This is to allow works to start on the construction of the new John Gorton Campus multi-storey carpark.

Find out more about the John Gorton Campus carpark closure on the Australian Government Department of Finance website.

Additional truck movements in Coranderrk Street, Constitution Avenue and London Circuit

Works to raise London Circuit are moving to the next phase with the construction of a temporary road to the west of Commonwealth Avenue. This will lead to an increase in truck movements on Coranderrk Street, Constitution Avenue and London Circuit, and surrounding main roads leading to the city.

Residents are advised to be especially mindful when walking, cycling or driving near the work site entrances at the intersection of London Circuit and Constitution Avenue, and London Circuit and Edinburgh Avenue.

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Road closure for London Circuit between Edinburgh Avenue and Constitution Avenue

London Circuit between Edinburgh Avenue and Constitution Avenue will be closed until early 2025 for the duration of the light rail project.

Road closure for ramps from Commonwealth Avenue to Parkes Way and London Circuit

Both cloverleaf ramps from Commonwealth Avenue to Parkes Way and London Circuit are now permanently closed.

Detours are in place to maintain access to the east and west of the city and Parkes Way. People are encouraged to rethink their travel routine and consider how and when they travel in and around the city.

Accessible car parking changes for City Hill

From Friday 1 March, accessible parking on the corner of Constitution Avenue and London Circuit will be moved to face Constitution Avenue.

The original car spaces will be closed for construction use, and this change will be in effect until July 2024.

The City Hill accessible car parking changes map is available on the Built for CBR website.

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Directing city bound traffic across Kings Ave Bridge means that while some traffic will turn on to Parkes way, a lot will also go across Kings Ave Bridge and turn left on to Russel Drive. Then when trying to turn right onto Reg Saunders way to access Constitution Ave, they will have to give way to traffic exiting Russel Drive carparks. My crystal ball indicates traffic seriously jammed. Thanks NCA

As we emerge from the winter hibernation we find the magpies are starting to swoop just like last year and the year before and so on. And the car brained anti LR zealots are back with the same old erroneous arguments that the end of the world approaches.

Me? I eagerly await waving a card, phone, smart watch and jumping on board. Cannot wait for the future to become the present.

OpenYourMind5:45 pm 15 Aug 24

Erroneous….Err, what? The anti LR arguments are well founded and expressed. It’s the LR at any cost brigade that are the ones deserving of the zealot badge!

Big red still thinks that people arguing against light rail must support only car based transport, so it’s understandable that they they think light rail is some major technological advancement.

You must live on the tram route! For most of us the tram will just complicate and extend public transport usage, with many going back to their cars as the buses no longer run quick direct routes.

Really troublesome for kids with after school sports, for parents picking up or dropping off kids, doing shopping all without a car. Just not workable, but this mob are not considering practicality for everyone, just personal profile and ambition.

The tram that no one wants and the tram that will put a lot of bus drivers into unemployment, hoorah for Andrew Barr.

“Nobody wants” speak for yourself, there are plenty of people who support it.
There will still be buses and there will be light rail drivers.
Considering they are currently advertising for trainee drivers I doubt your claim on that has any basis.

They don’t have enough bus drivers as it is. Of all the problems with light rail, that is about the least of them.

“The original car spaces will be closed for construction use, and this change will be in effect until July 2024”.
Now that it is August, what is happening here?

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