2 April 2012

Upgrades for Constitution Avenue

| johnboy
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concept view

Territory and Municipal Services have released what they’re going to do with $42 million from the Federales as a Centenary gift.

In celebration of the Centenary of Canberra in 2013, the Australian Government has gifted $42 million to the ACT Government for the upgrade of Constitution Avenue. The upgrade project will deliver major transport infrastructure improvements along the road corridor including:

— a dedicated bus lane in each direction;
— a separated cycle path;
— wider footpaths; and
— a new central median planted with trees.

The upgrade of Constitution Avenue will provide the necessary infrastructure to support future development in the area. As commercial and residential development is progressed along Constitution Avenue the public realm spaces will be upgraded to achieve the visionary design for 2031.

There’s a fact sheet available with all the spiffy archictect’s drawings we know and love.


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AsparagusSyndrome11:12 pm 04 Apr 12

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.

thy_dungeonman3:11 pm 02 Apr 12

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!

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

Keijidosha said :

The artist’s renderings make it look like St. Kilda Road in Melbourne.

I thought that was the very definition of ACT planning objectives.

The artist’s renderings make it look like St. Kilda Road in Melbourne. If we get that kind of result I’d be very impressed. I’d be even more impressed if the same design (and logic) were applied to Northbourne Avenue.

Anyone else notice the inclusion of light rail in the last drawing? (Hint, hint.)

I should add that I’m aware there are *some* residential/commercial properties there, but not many.

Do I understand this correctly? They are going to spend $42m on improving the road, creating a cycle path, and putting some trees there. That’s it?

I would have thought that improvements to areas where commercial/residential tenancies currently exist would make more sense…?

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