Gundaroo Drive duplication stage 1 works involve the construction of a second carriageway on Gundaroo Drive from Gungahlin Drive to the Mirrabei Drive/Anthony Rolfe Avenue roundabout. This project is currently running about 12 months behind the original schedule.
Six months of this was associated with seeking approvals to build the road on top of a 250mm high pressure gas main which runs on the western side of Gundaroo Drive from Gungahlin Drive to Mirrabei Drive. It was not viable to relocate this gas main due to the size and critical nature of the gas main to Gungahlin.
This project started in April 2016 however actual road construction did not commence until late 2016. At the May Gungahlin Community Council Meeting we were provided an update by Acting Executive Director, City Place and Infrastructure Ben McHugh stating that this works would be completed by the end of June. Clearly this has not occurred and we have been told that the rain during June has delayed the works further. We have been told that the four lanes will open this weekend from Gungahlin Drive to Nari Street and then the two lanes through to Mirrabei Drive northbound. The two lanes southbound between Mirrabei Drive and Nari Street will follow shortly after this.
The signalisation at Mirrabei Drive and Gundaroo Drive intersection is due for completion in the third quarter of 2018. At the Gungahlin Community Council meeting Mr McHugh also advised the road works occurring on Mirrabei drive to add an additional southbound lane on Mirrabei Drive from Paul Coe Crescent will also be completed in the middle of the third quarter of this year.
We were advised that some of the delays are also attributed to the change of scope of this project to signalise the intersection at Mirrabei Drive and Gundaroo Drive and the additional lane along Mirrabei Drive. This added a further 3 months to the time-frame. These works are valued at over $6.5m which represents nearly half of the contract value for Gundaroo stage 1 and was signed off on in mid 2017. This scope of change did not go out to open tender but was added as a variation to the existing contract. We were told the justification for this was that they were established on the site and there was cost benefits not having to pay a second contractor to come in and establish and manage that contract.
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