16 February 2022

Major upgrades target Hume's Monaro Highway hotspot

| Lottie Twyford
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Monaro highway at Lanyon drive

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.

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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.

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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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Capital Retro4:55 pm 01 May 23

What has happened to this project?

Work was underway last year but since then the site has closed down completely with barriers, fences and work huts removed.

More funding diverted to light rail?

How about some street lamps all the way along Monaro Hwy from Canberra Ave to Royalla.

Capital Retro7:02 am 17 Feb 22

Solar powered, of course?

Capital Retro5:01 pm 16 Feb 22

The real problem that needs fixing is that traffic travelling south on the Monaro Hwy that turn right (west) into Johnstone Drive still have right of way over traffic travelling north on the highway.

A flyover is urgently needed.

About those Monaro Upgrade signs on the D grade highway – they’ve been up for two years

I am not sure what this fly over will achieve apart from creating a bottle neck further south.
It should have been from Lanyon Drive over both directions connecting to the Western most lane of the Monaro Highway.
A bridge/flyover, across both lanes!
It does nothing for the mad rush when North bound traffic is merging with traffic coming from Lanyon Drive in the “fast” lane, Missed opportunity!

ChrisinTurner2:58 pm 16 Feb 22

No mention of any public transport to Hume and Jerrabomberra. Everyone has to have at least two cars.

There are buses to Jerrabomberra or are you suggesting the ACT government should be sending ACTION buses in.

As for Hume there was a service to there a few years back, no one used it.

Capital Retro6:58 pm 16 Feb 22

There are also bike lanes along the Monaro Highway that no one uses, JC.

Superimposing5:44 pm 17 Feb 22

A few of us hardy souls brave the Monaro on a bike but it isn’t a particularly fun or safe experience. The northbound intersection with Mugga lane is very dangerous for cyclists. Turning right when going southbound at the Rose cottage roundabout is also bloody dangerous. At both of these intersections you are put in amongst the cars. The separated bike lanes on the remainder of the road are fine. The Lanyon Dr intersection (southbound) is scary but doable. A separate bike path adjacent to but not on the road would be a game changer. I would commute much much more often as would many other cyclists.

Capital Retro11:12 am 18 Feb 22

“A separate bike path adjacent to but not on the road would be a game changer….”

Like the rarely used multi million dollar one next to the Majura Expressway?

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