The ACT Government is expanding the number of 40km/h zones in many areas of Canberra. Photo: File.
The fast-paced lifestyle of living in many of Canberra’s central hubs is about to slow down for motorists with the expansion of 40 km/h zones to make business precincts safer in Civic, Braddon and Tuggeranong.
Minister for Transport and City Services Chris Steel said the expansion of the 40 km/h zones was to make the areas safer for people to stop and is a natural evolution of Canberra’s growing business precincts.
Work to complete the expanded 40 km/h zones is expected to be completed by the end of March in Civic, Braddon and Tuggeranong. A new 40km/h precinct will also be developed in the Kingston Foreshore area.
Works to expand 40 km/h speed limits in the Belconnen Town Centre area have been completed following requests from sections of the business community.
Signage showing the new 40km/h zones in Canberra. Photo: Supplied.
Mr Steel said the decision to expand the 40km/h zones further was important due to the increased level of foot traffic in those areas, while acknowledging their dual function as places for both transport and people.
“As Canberra has grown, more streets have evolved to be not only places to move through, but also places for people to stop and spend time. The speed limit in these areas needs to reflect this functional evolution,” Mr Steel said.
“For example, the City and Braddon has changed remarkably in the past decade to become hubs for dining, cultural events, residents and public transport, with large numbers of people crossing the road to access the Alinga Street Station.
“Reducing speed limits in areas like our city centre, town, group and local centres makes our roads safer for everyone and supports a friendlier environment to walk, cycle and take public transport.
“This speed limit change will also support businesses by providing safer, more accessible places to visit, meet shop or dine.”
The announcement builds on the implementation of 40 km/h speed limit precincts in all ACT town centres in 2013 and all group centres in 2015 as part of the ACT Transport Strategy‘s Movement and Place framework.
The existing 40km/h zones in the City and Braddon include sections of Barry Drive, Cooyong Street, Northbourne Avenue between McKay Street to Vernon Circle, and a large section of the Braddon commercial precinct.
In Tuggeranong, work has been completed on the expansion of the 40km/h zone to include Anketell Street from Athllon Drive to Pitman Street, a section of Reed Street, and all of Eileen Good Street and Cowlishaw Street.
Mr Steel said the new speed zones in Tuggeranong follows the removal of buses from Anketell Street last year and supports the Government’s ongoing investments in place making upgrades and improvements to Tuggeranong Laneways.
The new 40km/h zones in Kingston. Image: Supplied.
In Kingston, new safety zones will include Eastlake Parade, Trevillian Quay, Giles Street, sections of Printers Way, Eyre Street, Honeysett View and Kerridge Street.
As well as new 40 km/h signage, two sets of speed humps will be installed on the Eyre Street and Dawes Street approaches to Printers Way to reduce speeds through the intersection and further enhance safety for all road users.
Suburb centres with 40 km/h precincts are also at: Amaroo, Calwell, Charnwood, Chisholm, Conder, Curtin, Dickson, Erindale, Hawker, Jamison, Kaleen, Kambah, Kingston, Kippax, Manuka, Mawson, Wanniassa and Weston.
Mr Steel said the ACT Government will continue to review the use of 40km/h zones to improve safety as Canberra continues to grow and as the function of the streets change.
More information on 40km/h zones in town and group centres can be found on the City Services website.
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