Safety and travel time improvements along the Monaro Highway are a step closer following the release of concept designs for a southbound flyover at the intersection with Lanyon Drive.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the flyover was part of a suite of improvements at the Lanyon Drive intersection.
"The Lanyon Drive flyover will improve traffic flow during the morning and afternoon peak periods, getting commuters home sooner and safer," Mr McCormack said.
"The traffic lights at the Alexander Maconochie Centre intersection and at the southbound Monaro Highway intersection with Lanyon Drive will be removed and the signalised intersection at Lanyon Drive and Sheppard Street upgraded to improve access into and out of the Hume commercial centre.
"Last year we also announced both the Australian and ACT Governments were accelerating funding to allow $45 million of major works to start in the 2020-21 financial year."
These designs are for the first stage of the Monaro Highway upgrade project that will also see improvements to the intersections with Isabella Drive, Mugga Lane, Tralee Street and Sheppard Street.
The design that the ACT Government is proposing will remove two sets of traffic lights at the AMC and Lanyon Drive for a faster and safer journey on the Monaro and we will continue the design work on removing other signalised intersections," ACT Minister for Roads Chris Steel said.
"This is a major infrastructure investment of up to $100 million from the ACT Government which will support local jobs at a time when the economy needs them most."
Safety improvements are also well underway further south on the Monaro, with the addition of an overtaking lane and turning lanes near Royalla, which will improve safety those on the way to the snow fields, due to be completed this year.
The ACT Government will be reaching out to local stakeholders, including businesses in Hume, over the coming weeks to commence consultation on the proposed designs.
Senator for the ACT Zed Seselja said he looked forward to the construction getting underway.
"The release of the concept design is an important step toward construction and I am pleased to see we are a step closer to getting Canberrans home sooner and safer," Senator Seselja said.
"I have been prosecuting the case for this much needed flyover since my first term as Senator for the ACT.
"In 2016 I secured funding for a scoping study on improving the safety of the Monaro Highway, but I didn't stop there, and in 2018 a massive $100 million was committed by the Liberal-National Government to improve the Monaro, including the much needed flyover at Lanyon,"
ACT Member for Brindabella Joy Burch said that the project would be welcomed by Tuggeranong residents.
"Tuggeranong residents will be the main beneficiary of these works with the Monaro Highway upgrades set to become the biggest roads project underway in the ACT," Ms Burch said.
"This project will ensure Tuggeranong residents can travel efficiently and safely to and from work, and cope with thousands of extra vehicles as suburbs grow across the border.
"This is just the start, our Labor Government will continue to invest in the Monaro Highway with further design underway to address other intersections to keep traffic flowing and improve safety."
On-road cycle lanes will also be built as part of the new flyover.
This project will be funded under the $200 million Monaro Highway Upgrade Package, which has been jointly funded by the Australian and ACT governments on a 50:50 basis.
