A $230 million works program has begun on the Monaro Highway near Lanyon Drive and the Alexander Maconochie Centre. Construction on the Hume interchange and Isabella Drive intersection will follow. Photo: Google Maps.
Construction valued at $230.5 million has begun on the intersection of the Monaro Highway with Lanyon Drive. The major program of works is expected to create 700 jobs during design and construction.
The works will support highway safety by removing dangerous intersections and separating turning traffic.
The section of the Monaro Highway at Hume is consistently listed in the top three most dangerous roads in Canberra. It is well known as a speeding hotspot despite the installation of speed cameras and signage, and in 2020 was named the ACT’s worst site for crashes.
In April 2021, a highly-publicised crash between two vehicles on the Monaro Highway left rising CBR Brave ice hockey star Lachlan Seary dead.
The first stage of the project will be the construction of a new flyover and exit to Sheppard Street in Hume. In coming weeks, an expression of interest for the tender to design and construct the upgrades at the Lanyon Drive Interchange will be released.
A contract could be awarded late this year with designs to be finalised and construction to start in 2023.
Work has already begun relocating utilities to enable phase one.
The project’s second stage will involve replacing intersections at Sheppard Street, Tralee Street and Mugga Lane with a new bridge currently in design. Stage three involves the design of a new interchange at Isabella Drive to directly connect Tuggeranong, Hume and Googong.
Other changes will include:
- The removal of traffic lights at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (intersection of the Monaro Highway and David Warren Road);
- A new roundabout at the intersection of the new Monaro Highway southbound off-ramp and David Warren Road extension;
- An upgrade of the signalised intersection at Lanyon Drive and Sheppard Street to four ways to include a direct connection to David Warren Road and the Monaro Highway southbound off-ramp.
Early works are expected to take less than nine months with no significant traffic disruptions. Most works will occur at night, although the road will be reduced to 60 kilometres/hour at times.
Minister for Transport and City Services Chris Steel said some disruptions were anticipated once the major works began in 2023.
The major program of works is being jointly funded by the Federal Government and ACT Government, with the Commonwealth committing $115.25 million.
Mr Steel said the highway upgrades would support the “safe and efficient movement of people and freight around a growing part of the ACT and the surrounding region”.
“At the moment, there is a huge range of traffic light intersections that are quite dangerous and unfortunately we have seen serious accidents and deaths at them,” he said. “These intersections will be removed and traffic flows will be separated so people are no longer required to cross the highway.”
Senator for the ACT Zed Seselja initially committed to the upgrades as a 2016 election promise.
Mr Seselja said once the works were completed, Canberrans should expect a safer Monaro Highway and quicker travel times thanks to increased capacity on the road.
“We know this is a real growth corridor and really important to the people of South Canberra as well as those over the border,” he said.
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