Upgrades for Constitution Avenue

Anthos_Hero said :

Why is there a light rail system in the photo?

I’m sure it’s not light rail (or the XPT). It’s probably just … a train-shaped coffee shop.

Constitution Avenue will be chock-full of coffee shops. I guess they’ll need to sacrifice about 10 metres of gravel car park along the street frontage, maybe more, to make room for all the al-fresco ambience and latte.

If it really is going to be Canberra’s Champs Elysee, AND fit all those coffee shops and cafes, and be ‘mixed use’ (i.e. mobile phone shops and gyms too) then it needs to be modelled after the Champs Hibbersnarl in Gungahlin.

That’s right, pull down all the trees to widen the road.

…And if you go through and read the “Action Plan”, it seems like main objective apart from improving roads is to build more high-rise buildings with cafes in them, which will somehow revitalise Canberra’s image.

Why is there a light rail system in the photo?

Postalgeek said :

Well, if I were ASIO, and I had my nice new lake front villa, I’d want to do something about the driveway too.

Interestingly, if you read the details, this grand upgrade actually only covers the section between Anzac Parade and Vernon Circle – the eastern half misses out on the action entirely.

Personally, I’d like to see one planning document that doesn’t insist on using the phrase “vibrant mixed-use precinct”.

MariaC said :

I haven’t taken this seriously since I read an article a few years ago where the NCA declared Constitution Ave would be the Champs-Élysées of Canberra. HAR HAR.

I thought that was a Bob Brown idea? (or was that Commonwealth Avenue?)

I haven’t taken this seriously since I read an article a few years ago where the NCA declared Constitution Ave would be the Champs-Élysées of Canberra. HAR HAR.

Finally, a proper dedicated cycle path that’s not on the road.

Look at the picture; they’re also going to bring the XPT into town!