15 May 2018

It's official: Cotter Road duplication is complete

| Ian Bushnell
Join the conversation
9

The Cotter Road duplication has been declared officially completed, with minor works being finalised last week.

The 1.7 kilometre section from west of the Tuggeranong Parkway to east of Yarralumla Creek was opened to road users in April, but last week’s works completed the duplication of Cotter Road between Dudley Street, Yarralumla and John Gorton Drive, Weston Creek.

Labor MLA for Murrumbidgee Bec Cody, representing the Minister for Transport and City Services Meegan Fitzharris, announced the completion of the duplication yesterday (Monday 14 May) and spoke of the progress on a number of important transport infrastructure projects throughout Canberra.

“We are seeing substantial growth in all areas across Canberra and our transport infrastructure projects reflect this, taking place on major arterial routes that connect residents across the Territory,” Ms Cody said.

“Late last year we announced the completion of the Aikman Drive duplication, construction of the final stage of the duplication of Horse Park Drive has recently begun, the final layers of asphalt are being laid on Ashley Drive and now the completion of stage two of the duplication of Cotter Road.”

Key features of the duplication include:

  • duplication of approximately 1.7 kilometres of Cotter Road from west of the Tuggeranong Parkway to east of Yarralumla Creek providing two-lane dual carriageways and on-road cycle paths;
  • construction of a new eastbound carriageway, including the new bridge over Yarralumla Creek;
  • renewal of the existing pavement and the existing bridge to form the new westbound carriageway;
  • construction of a new off-road shared path on the south side of Cotter Road, between the Yarralumla Creek path network and the Streeton Drive intersection;
  • upgrade of the Cotter Road bridge over the Tuggeranong Parkway to provide shared path access and bridge safety upgrades; and
  • construction of a 600 metre stone-faced noise wall.

Ms Cody said the Cotter Road carried more than 22,000 vehicles daily, connecting the Molonglo Valley and Weston Creek to the rest of Canberra.

“Current development in the Molonglo Valley necessitated the upgrading of this important link in the road network, which will significantly increase traffic capacity and safety for all road users, including cyclists and pedestrians,” she said.

“I would like to thank Canberrans for their patience whilst we continue works to improve the capacity of our road network and the daily commutes we all experience,” Ms Cody said.

Join the conversation

9
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

I’m sure the last few months of work have been the stonemasons intricate work on the multi million dollar stonewall next to the road to reduce the traffic noise for the Curtin residents over 50 metres away.

Whilst the ACT Public Service officials and Government reps who live in the flash part of Curtin get an amazing Stone Wall to separate them from Cotter road, I notice that the Gowrie Tuggeranong residents with their houses backing directly onto the new Ashley Drive duplication, got a shoddy timber fence that is clearly the cheapest possible option and will not reduce traffic noise in the slightest.

No wonder the locals call it the Great Wall of Curtin. Surely that money on the Stone Wall would have been better spent elsewhere.

And what a nice job they did! Smooth surface and excellent bike off and on road options. Not sure that 80km/h isn’t too fast given what’s at either end and the predilection for some to give it that 10% margin and beat the rest of us. 70km/h would probably be a better compromise.

I wouldn’t consider it finished until they bring the speed limit up from 40kph (beside the service station that currently isn’t being built) to the 80kph it is supposed to have.

That section is duplicated and the reduced speed limit has nothing to do with the duplication project.

That said it is an odd speed limit considering where the ‘road works’ is going on. One of many examples of different implementations of road works speed limits.

Especially odd considering there has not been any construction going on for months.

Remove the signs until construction actually starts.

Surely the construction company can notify the government when they are about to start work. At present they should be fined for needlessly delaying traffic.

Capital Retro10:02 pm 15 May 18

Meanwhile’ progress is slow on the Ashley Drive wideing although the traffic lights (which will be cursed by motorists in peak hours) at the intersections of Statton Street, Clive Steele and Bugden are operational. Single lanes are still being used and travelling south there is one of those solar powered advisory speed signs with 60 on it. As your car gets closer it will change to “58 KMH, too fast!” It must have been set manually.

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.