Last Wednesday on the 8th of April Paul Peters from Roads and Public Transport attended the Gungahlin Community Council. It is always good to get updates directly from these ACT Government Directorates at the GCC meetings.
Main discussion points at the meeting was on the Majura Parkway development and the upgrade of the intersection that is the roundabout on the Barton Highway.
What I don’t understand is why at this community meeting it was not announced or discussed other road upgrade projects that were subsequently announced the following day via the Time To Talkwebsite and TAMS website.
The website announces 3 key projects to be completed over the next 12 to 18 months:
- Gungahlin Drive upgrade – Well Station Drive to Barton Highway
- Barton Highway/Gundaroo Drive/William Slim Drive intersection upgrade
- Gundaroo Drive/Candlebark Close/Nudurr Drive intersection upgrade
People at the GCC meeting did raise with Mr Peters the issue surrounding Gungahlin Drive in the morning peak period time due to the build up at the Sandford St intersection. Why did he not announce this work was going to be undertaken in the next 12 to 18 months? We understand that Gungahlin Drive will be widened to 3 lanes from Well Station Drive to Barton Highway. This is a significant improvement to this piece of road and should lead to resolving the congestion in the morning. I just don’t understand why this would not have been raised the night before. I would also suggest Sandford St should also be widened to 2 lanes to Hoskins St to allow more traffic to flow into Mitchell in the mornings.
The upgrades to the roundabout at the Barton Highway was discussed at length at the GCC meeting. This intersection will essentially become a 4 way signalised intersection. At the GCC meeting there was some scepticism as to whether this will resolve traffic banking up along Gundaroo Drive in the mornings. You can see more information here on the TAMS website.
The intersection upgrade at Gundaroo Drive, Candlebark Close and Nudurr Drive was not discussed at the GCC meeting. Once again I don’t understand why not. The duplication of Gundaroo Drive was discussed but this intersection upgrade was not mentioned. TAMS advise minor works will be undertaken to improve safety. The roundabout will be modified to provide exclusive turning lanes. This is similar to what was done at Abena Avenue. Hopefully this time better signage will be put in place to warn drivers of the changes.
I am concerned by this announcement. If they did plan to duplicate Gundaroo Drive in the near future (as in next financial year) surely they would not upgrade this intersection. The duplication of Gundaroo Drive has undergone the relevant design work, it just has to be funded. Why wasn’t this announced that it will be funded next year? My concern is because it won’t be.
The intersection at Horse Park Drive and Anthony Rolfe Avenue will be upgraded to improve safety and traffic flow and provide better access to nearby suburbs including Harrison, Gungahlin and the new suburb of Throsby.
I am surprised and disappointed these items were not raised at the GCC meeting to form part of the consultation process with the Gungahlin community.
It has also been announced some design work has been undertaken for the duplication of Horse Park Drive from Federal Highway to Well Station Drive. This design work must go all the way to Gundaroo Drive and see the duplication happen in financial year 2016/2017. The duplication of the rest of Horse Park Drive will need to happen in later years along with the duplication of Clarrie Hermes and Gungahlin Drive from Gundaroo Drive.
Gungahlin had the fastest population growth in 2013 – 2014 Nationally according to the ABS. This growth will continue with the addition of Moncrieff and development commencing in Throsby. We must see the major arterial roads improve before we keep increasing the population.
Intersections along Horse Park Drive must also be also be upgraded next to Amaroo and Forde. Thankfully foresight was used in the Horse Park Drive extension at the intersections for Moncrieff and well designed intersections were developed. That same approach must be done at Mornington St, Katherine Avenue, Francis Forde Boulevarde.
Nudurr Drive extenesion is another project that needs to be considered in the near future. Perhaps this needs to go all the way to Gungahlin Drive.
ACT Government has made millions of dollars from land sales in Gungahlin and we haven’t had the benefit Tuggeranong did of well designed pre-built roads prior to the main development. It is time we saw a commitment for next financial year and the following years for these major projects.
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