7 January 2011

Gungahlin road upgrades

| johnboy
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Chief Minister Stanhope is informing us that he’s contracted another $21 million of our money for upgrading roads in Gungahlin:

The ACT Government has awarded a $21 million road contract to support the future traffic needs of north Gungahlin and the new suburb of Casey.

Chief Minister and Minister for Land and Property Services, Jon Stanhope, said work would start this month on the extension of Clarrie Hermes Drive from Kelleway Avenue in Nicholls to the Barton Highway.

“Gungahlin is one of Canberra’s fastest growing communities, and this significant investment in transport infrastructure will support the future traffic needs of Casey, Nicholls and Ngunnawal,” Mr Stanhope said.

“The existing ‘T’ intersection of the Barton Highway and Kuringa Drive will be upgraded to a signalisedfour-way intersection to include the new Clarrie Hermes Drive. Pedestrians and cyclists will also benefit from a new shared path along the extension.

Because we’d have really hated to see it done right the first time.

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Holden Caulfield8:31 pm 07 Jan 11

johnboy said: I was referring to the need to upgrade roads in planned new suburbs.

Quite.

When we were renting in Ngunnawal back in the day–when there was at least four sizeable suburbs and no supermarket–there were just two single lane roads to access Gungahlin.

Who knew Gungahlin was going to get so big!

If that’s the case, the Barton Hwy / Gunderoo Dr / William Slim Dr roundabout should be an overpass for the Barton Hwy.

You’re right, of course, I should have added “cost” to the bargain 🙂 Having said that, I would be surprised to learn that traffic lights would end up cheaper than a roundabout for that particular intersection, since it’s going to have to be almost completely dug up and re-done to make a 4-way intersection anyway.

everything to do with expected traffic flow patterns and which intersection style will handle them most efficiently

If that’s the case, the Barton Hwy / Gunderoo Dr / William Slim Dr roundabout should be an overpass for the Barton Hwy.

The flow pattern for the morning is cars getting out of Gungahlin can’t because of the traffic flow of cars travelling southbound on the highway. The Gungahlin cars have to give way to them.

I’d say most decisions are made with a dollar sign. It’s much cheaper, in the short term at least, to put up traffic lights, than completely re-design the road into a roundabout.

amarooresident32:55 pm 07 Jan 11

Seeing as Casey is just now coming online, the road extension is right on time.

“Even better when Horse Park Drive is finished. Direct run from the Federal Hwy to the Barton Hwy through Gungahlin”

+1

I was referring to the need to upgrade roads in planned new suburbs.

Thoroughly Smashed12:48 pm 07 Jan 11

“Because we’d have really hated to see it done right the first time.”

This can only be in reference to the quoted text, but if so I can’t work out which statement it’s aimed at.

I’m suprised the Barton Hwy / Clarrie Hermes Drive intersection is going to be traffic light operated rather than a roundabout.

I’ve posted before about how these decisions are (or at least should be) made. Short version: It has nothing to do with “we’ve done a lot of roundabouts recently, let’s change it up” and (almost) everything to do with expected traffic flow patterns and which intersection style will handle them most efficiently. There’s also a minor detail of the extra land required for roundabouts, but in this case I can’t imagine that being an issue.

I’m suprised the Barton Hwy / Clarrie Hermes Drive intersection is going to be traffic light operated rather than a roundabout. Yes, another roundabout is the last thing Canberra needs, but with the large one just down the road, it seemed like the most likely option.

It’s long overdue though, rather than going through Harcourt Hill to get from Casey to the Barton Hwy. Even better when Horse Park Drive is finished. Direct run from the Federal Hwy to the Barton Hwy through Gungahlin.

Interesting to read in the CM’s press release yet ANOTHER mention of the completed Flemington Road Bus Lane – the one that is not actually finished yet.

Why, oh why, doesn’t the media take the CM to task on issues like this? Where are all the journalists from The Canberra Times and the ABC – where is their investigative journalism? Or are they (or their bosses) too busy cuddling up to the powers that be…?

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