4 June 2009

Majura Parkway kicked off

| johnboy
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TAMS have launched a glossy website to sell you on the merits of the new Majura Parkway.

From the blurb:

    The Majura Parkway is an exciting new road development that will seamlessly connect the Federal Highway to the Monaro Highway.

    Some the benefits of this road project are:

    — Relieving traffic congestion and provide better access to the Majura Valley.
    — Enabling the better movement of traffic from the north to the southside of Canberra.
    — Providing other benefits like better fuel consumption and reduce greenhouse gases.

So there you go.

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Captain RAAF6:36 pm 18 May 11

LH said :

I doubt the farmers/residents out in Majura Valley think so.

I wonder if they are relocating those that lose their houses?

No, no they’re just going to wait until they’re asleep and drive a bulldozer over the house while there’s people in them….jeez it’s hard……………..

Well if the federal government won’t kick in the cash this could turn into our first paid toll road.

I doubt the farmers/residents out in Majura Valley think so.

Actually, from what I hear they’re pretty happy about it, mainly because it’ll take a lot of heavy vehicle traffic off Majura Rd.

Plans, details etc (as opposed to the TAMS websites’ pretty-pictures-but-no-actual-information philosphy) can be found on http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/topics/your_say/comment/draft_eis/majura_parkway. Much more useful and enlightening (!).

It’s really sad that they can’t just duplicate the existing road, where there’s already easements for it. They are destroying some of the best farming land close to Canberra.

The roundabouts on Majura are for Snow’s various commercial projects. They could have duplicated Majura, made proper sliplanes for the roundabouts, and done their Fairbairn flyovers with minimal disruption to the rest of the valley. It’s sad.

dosomethinguseful11:14 am 05 Jun 09

Pandy said :

Bridge across Canberra Avenue: When will it be duplicated Sir?

+100 This is something sorely needed for ages.

My main problem is that if Majura Parkway keeps its name, people will get confused when people say “Go down the Parkway”, as “Parkway” is a short name for Tuggeranong Parkway

Wow, that’s your main problem?? Get out more.

Although there are some people who get the Tuggeranong Parkway and Parkes Way confused

I-filed said :

So – where is your much-vaunted, much-touted facility for consultation/feedback on this project please, ACT Government?

Comments on the draft environment impact statement are open until the 29th.

cring said :

You can view the proposed link on Google Maps! (It’s marked by ALT32)

That’s the existing Majura Rd. The alignment of the parkway can be seen in chapter 1, page 4 of the impact statement.

The map isn’t particularly precise, but stage 1 (the only part with any sort of funding) looks suspiciously like airport access. The whole north-south improvements are all in stage 2 and 3 which are currently in fairyland.

I doubt the farmers/residents out in Majura Valley think so.

I agree. My sister lives out there, and while the road won’t go through their property, it will cut off equestrian access to Mt Ainsle, and from the plans, it looks as though it’s going to go straight through her brother in-law’s house. I wonder if they are relocating those that lose their houses?

cring said :

This is fantastic news as a resident of Hackett :)! I’m so glad they’ve proposed this solution as opposed to the Monash Dr. link!

I doubt the farmers/residents out in Majura Valley think so.

Clown Killer said :

As a mountain biker myself, we’ve always known that sharing space with ACT Forestry plantations meant that they may not be around forever – and that applies to Kowen and Sparrow Hill as well. Stromlo is really the only permanent facility.

Agreed Caf. These were never permanent trails and the cycle of softwoood harvesting woould have enventually caught up with Majura sooner or later. That said, now that I know that these trails are under the hammer, I’m going to make more of an effort to get some riding done out that way before they go – there’s some sweet singletrack in those woods!

+1

Good pine single tracks are one of those things you savour while they last. It’s a little bit sad as they represent a lot of volunteer time and effort to make, years even, but everyone knows the score. I’ll be riding more of Majura for a while.

Gungahlin Al9:15 am 05 Jun 09

caf said :

This was the *only* project of the ones that Infrastructure Australia recognised as “shovel ready” to be left out of funding in the Federal Budget. Reckon we’ve been hard done by there.

As opposed to the stupid PWC light rail proposal, that talked about not starting construction until 2011! What part of ‘shovel ready’ did Jon not understand?

Clown Killer8:49 am 05 Jun 09

This is fantastic news as a resident of Hackett :)! I’m so glad they’ve proposed this solution as opposed to the Monash Dr. link!

I wouldn’t be opening the champagne just yet Cring. I doubt that it was ever seriously viewed as an “either or situation”.

Clown Killer8:47 am 05 Jun 09

As a mountain biker myself, we’ve always known that sharing space with ACT Forestry plantations meant that they may not be around forever – and that applies to Kowen and Sparrow Hill as well. Stromlo is really the only permanent facility.

Agreed Caf. These were never permanent trails and the cycle of softwoood harvesting woould have enventually caught up with Majura sooner or later. That said, now that I know that these trails are under the hammer, I’m going to make more of an effort to get some riding done out that way before they go – there’s some sweet singletrack in those woods!

You can view the proposed link on Google Maps! (It’s marked by ALT32)

This is fantastic news as a resident of Hackett :)! I’m so glad they’ve proposed this solution as opposed to the Monash Dr. link!

Pandy said :

Bridge across Canberra Avenue: When will it be duplicated Sir?

That section of the Monaro is a classic bottleneck, four lane dual carriageway narrowing to two lane single carriageway for a couple of hundred metres and then opening out into four lanes again. No wonder it’s a carpark stretching back past the Hindmarsh Drive overpass even before 8am each morning.

Pandy said :

Bridge across Canberra Avenue: When will it be duplicated Sir?

+1

Bridge across Canberra Avenue: When will it be duplicated Sir?

As a Tuggeranong resident, I am hoping this one does what the GDE could have done and provide quicker access to Sydney. Not that Sydney is a desirable destination, but I find it a necessary destination more often than I would like…

All depends on the number of lanes and traffic lights…

As a mountain biker myself, we’ve always known that sharing space with ACT Forestry plantations meant that they may not be around forever – and that applies to Kowen and Sparrow Hill as well. Stromlo is really the only permanent facility.

captainwhorebags7:22 am 05 Jun 09

Mountainbike riders lose out when part of the pine plantation is removed, however road cyclists win when they get a much safer road to ride on.

The problem with the bikes isn’t crossing the road, as many ride in from Hackett – it’s the ACT govt realigning the road so it destroys the lower half of the forest. It seems the Govt don’t have much confidence in the driving abiity of ACT residents, as they aim to remove all but the slightest of bends from the new road.

So – where is your much-vaunted, much-touted facility for consultation/feedback on this project please, ACT Government?

Devil_n_Disquiz said :

Heaven forbid should our two wheeled friends be inconvenienced. Where the trails cross over the new roading I am sure they will be painted green so we can all share in this ‘Parkway’

I thought underpasses were going to be built so that bikes go under Majura Parkway.

My main problem is that if Majura Parkway keeps its name, people will get confused when people say “Go down the Parkway”, as “Parkway” is a short name for Tuggeranong Parkway.

Being able to get past the airport with out having to go through any traffic lights would be of more use to anyone trying to get from the Federal highway to the Monaro though

If you, you know, actually read the website, you’d see that’s part of the plan.

Does anyone know about the status of the proposed Monash Drive?

Monash Dr is still on the Territory Plan, and therefore still could be built. The Greens tried to get it removed once and for all not so long ago, but I believe to no avail. By the same token, there’s no plans afoot to actually build it – it’s basically just on the plan so that if they do decide they need it, the residents can’t say they weren’t warned. Not that that will stop them complaining for even a second.

Devil_n_Disquiz8:17 pm 04 Jun 09

Heaven forbid should our two wheeled friends be inconvenienced. Where the trails cross over the new roading I am sure they will be painted green so we can all share in this ‘Parkway’

They totally glossed over the impact on Majura Pines. They are going to destroy the lower section of Majura Pines, which will wipe out a large number of nationally recognised mountain bike trails.

Felix the Cat7:12 pm 04 Jun 09

I believe Monash Dr was stillborn due to environmental issues.

funkylovebunny6:08 pm 04 Jun 09

Does anyone know about the status of the proposed Monash Drive? This is drawn on maps and is supposed to run behind Ainslie and Hackett. It will effectively cut off Mts Ainslie and Majura from suburbia, and also remove an important “nature corridor” going the other way.

Just my .02, but having north going east? Is really annoying.

peterh said :

majura road does this already. are they going to duplicate it?

It mentions on the site that majura road will be retained as an access road to local properties etc

p1 said :

I was being slightly sarcastic a la the GDE only being single lane. Since this is a upgrade to an existing road, I would hope that it at least duplicates it.

Being able to get past the airport with out having to go through any traffic lights would be of more use to anyone trying to get from the Federal highway to the Monaro though

really? I did not notice…

I was being slightly sarcastic a la the GDE only being single lane. Since this is a upgrade to an existing road, I would hope that it at least duplicates it.

Being able to get past the airport with out having to go through any traffic lights would be of more use to anyone trying to get from the Federal highway to the Monaro though

majura road does this already. are they going to duplicate it?

I assume that they will be building it single lane and duplicating it later?

Holden Caulfield5:03 pm 04 Jun 09

Thoroughly Smashed said :

Hah, “Fairburn” Avenue.

x2

The Frequently Asked Questions page is empty.

Guessing the opposition haven’t heard about the plan to build the road in stages yet, then.

Thoroughly Smashed4:15 pm 04 Jun 09

Hah, “Fairburn” Avenue.

This was the *only* project of the ones that Infrastructure Australia recognised as “shovel ready” to be left out of funding in the Federal Budget. Reckon we’ve been hard done by there.

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