Main construction works set to begin on one of the ACT's most dangerous roads

Construction works to make the Monaro Highway safer and easier to use are set to begin in 2024, with the detailed design and construction contract secured by a Canberra company.

The $70 million contract has been awarded to Woden Contractors to deliver the Monaro Highway Upgrade Project at the Lanyon Drive interchange just south of the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC).

The contract includes a new southbound flyover of the Monaro Highway over Lanyon Drive, a new widened bridge on the northbound carriage over Dog Trap Creek and upgrading the highway road pavement from David Warren Road to Sheppard Street.

Transport Minister Chris Steel described the works as “critical” to improving the safety of the highway.

“The intent is to remove those dangerous, at-grade intersections – some of which are uncontrolled, some of which have traffic lights – to make sure this is a safer road … It shouldn’t be the case that on a major highway like this that you have so many intersections [that allow] traffic to just turn across the highway,” he said.

“Unfortunately, we’ve seen some very high-profile accidents and tragedies over the last few years on the Monaro Highway, and that’s now why we’re getting on with the works to make sure we’ve got safer highways for people to use.”

Preparation works for the project have already been completed, including new overtaking lanes on the rural section of the Monaro Highway between Old Cooma Road and Williamsdale Road and the relocation and protection of major water mains and telecommunication networks near Lanyon Drive.

The relocation of two gas mains is expected to be completed in the coming months to allow the main construction works to get underway.

The works are expected to start in 2024 and will take about three years to complete.

This includes bringing in pre-constructed concrete sections of two bridges and overlay asphalt work.

Woden Contractors managing director Ben Helmers said the local team was excited to deliver such an important project for the region.

“This is probably almost double the size of most of the projects that are usually delivered by TCCS, and so yes, it’s a bit bigger and over a three-year period, but we’ve done this sort of work before and we’re really confident,” he said.

“There’s always weather and other delays, but we’ve got the resources and we’re ready to go.”

The contract doesn’t include another major package of works for the interchange.

Plans for removing traffic lights at the AMC, the extension of David Warren Road to Lanyon Drive, and a new roundabout and signalised intersection connecting to a new Monaro Highway off-ramp and Sheppard Street are still subject to environmental and other approvals.

“[This] will act as an exit for southbound traffic onto Lanyon Drive and Sheppard Street in Hume. That’s subject to a range of different environmental approvals that we’re still working through and we’re expecting to go out to tender for those works next year.

“[The Monaro Highway] consistently rates as one of the most dangerous roads in the ACT, and that’s why both [the Territory and Federal] governments are so committed to making safety improvements [to this area].”

The landscaping plans will be finalised during the detailed design phase but will focus on local and native species, prioritise tree planting, biodiversity conservation and water-sensitive urban design.

Conversations are also underway between the Federal, Territory and NSW Governments, as well as the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council, on future plans for the roadway.

This includes addressing the intersections onto the highway from Tralee Street and Mugga Lane and down to the Isabella Drive roundabout where a potential future connection to the Monaro Highway could be created to Googong.

“We’ll be looking at each of those intersections and how we can improve safety,” Mr Steel said.

“By improving safety, we may be able to improve travel times as well.”

The previous works on the Monaro Highway upgrade already completed were part of a program of works jointly funded between the ACT and Federal governments.

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Catherine King said it was important to invest in works that would support growing populations, reduce congestion and improve travel times.

“This project will provide a major economic stimulus to the Canberra and Monaro region, including an estimated 700 jobs to be created during the detailed design and construction phases,” she said.

“Projects like this are important to not only keep local people employed and businesses running but also to provide the region’s community with better infrastructure and safer roads into the future.”

For more information on the project, visit Built for CBR.