23 July 2021

Two city car parks to become light rail compounds next month

| Ian Bushnell
Join the conversation
82
Artist's impression of light rail at the intersection of London Circuit and Commonwealth Avenue

Artist’s impression of light rail at the intersection of London Circuit and Commonwealth Avenue. Image: ACT Government.

The building of light rail Stage 2A is about to make itself felt with two ACT Government car parks in the city to close next month for several years.

Transport Canberra and City Services (TCCS) said construction site compounds will be set up at the car parks on the corner of London Circuit and Constitution Avenue, and at 41-51 Marcus Clarke Street.

The construction compounds will be used for site offices, storage, construction parking and utility installation.

TCCS said the project team will provide updates on the timing and impacts of the closures, and any further changes.

Information sessions on the Woden light rail project will be held in the city on Monday, 26 July, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre, 180 London Circuit, and on Monday, 2 August, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, at QT Canberra, 1 London Circuit.

The car park closures announcement comes after the ACT Government announced on Thursday, 22 July, its plans to deal with the road closures and traffic disruptions that light rail construction will necessitate.

Map showing Canberra city car park closures for light rail compounds and worksites

Map showing Canberra city car park closures for light rail compounds and worksites. Image: Transport Canberra and City Services.

The government said construction compounds would be set up in the city next month.

TCCS has not offered any parking alternatives, but ACT Minister for Transport and City Services Chris Steel has said that shifting drivers to public transport would be part of the solution, including building more Park and Ride facilities.

TCCS has nearly completed a third Park and Ride facility in Gungahlin, and Mr Steel said more will be on the way on Canberra’s southside.

He said the disruptions will last for four years in the city as London Circuit is raised to meet Commonwealth Avenue and the light rail line is extended from Alinga Street to Commonwealth Park.

Diversions, extra public transport services and staggering starting times to spread the peak congestion have already been flagged as strategies to deal with the expected traffic upheaval, and a cross-agency Disruptions Task Force has also been established to manage the situation.

Mr Steel had previously said the first track in the project would be laid before the 2024 ACT election.

TCCS said people can stay informed about parking, work notifications and light rail construction by visiting the Woden light rail project website.

Join the conversation

82
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

The great government of diversity wants to park and ride for those that drop kids at school.

So much for diversity. Please don’t have any more children so we can afford light rail.

Also we’re slashing buses.

Will someone please explain why the government should be sterilising high value land for lazy people to store their unused motor vehicles on. The economics of the proposition are absurd.

Capital Retro6:19 pm 25 Jul 21

“Light rail costs less than 1% of the territory budget, health takes up over 30%. the amount spent are not comparable.”

A lot less than 1% of our population use the trams but 100% of us use the health system.

HiddenDragon5:54 pm 25 Jul 21

On the other hand, it looks like parking spots for our beloved MLAs and senior ACT public servants will be untouched, and that’s what really matters, isn’t it……..?

And if that’s not enough to keep the proles happy, don’t forget that there’s a little thingy on the map about translocated Golden Sun moths (hopefully no one will mix up their pronouns).

Karl Chamberlain2:25 pm 25 Jul 21

They are not ‘raising’ London Circuit to meet Commonwealth Avenue’, they’re simply demolishing the overpass which has been in place for over fifty years.
That green space on the plans will actually be office and residential towers – more like Sydney every time they touch it.

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.