Major milestone achieved for upgrades along the Monaro Highway

The Australian and ACT governments are pleased to announce a significant milestone has been achieved in the Monaro Highway Upgrade Project at the Lanyon Drive-interchange.

The detailed design and construction contract for the new flyover has been awarded to a local ACT company, Woden Contractors, ahead of main works starting next year.

This contract represents a $70 million investment to make the highway safer, improve travel times and support freight movements.

The contract includes:

• a new southbound flyover of the Monaro Highway over Lanyon Drive (including three-metre wide sealed shoulders)

• upgrading of the highway road pavement from David Warren Road through to Sheppard Street (including three-metre-wide sealed shoulders)

• a new widened bridge on the northbound carriageway over Dog Trap Creek just north of Lanyon Drive

Another major package of works for the interchange is planned for 2024, subject to environmental and other approvals. This will include the removal of traffic lights at the Alexander Maconochie Centre and extension of David Warren Road to Lanyon Drive, with a new roundabout and signalised intersection connecting with a new Monaro Highway off-ramp and Sheppard Street.

The Lanyon Drive interchange is being designed to minimise the impact on existing native vegetation in the area. The landscaping plans will be finalised during the detailed design phase and focus on local and native species, prioritising tree planting, water sensitive urban design and biodiversity conservation.

Detailed design will now be finalised with major construction works expected to start in 2024 and take around three years to complete.

Previous works on the Monaro Highway Upgrade have already been completed as part of a program of works jointly funded between the Australian and ACT governments.

This includes completed safety improvements and new overtaking lanes on the rural section of the Monaro Highway between Old Cooma Road and Williamsdale Road in the ACT.

Extensive utility works, which started in January 2022, have also been completed near Lanyon Drive in preparation for the flyover, including relocation and protection of major watermains and telecommunication networks.

The relocation of two gas mains is expected to be completed in the coming months, which are necessary before main construction works get underway on the new Lanyon interchange.

For more details, visit www.builtforcbr.act.gov.au.

Quotes attributable to Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

“The Australian Government understands the importance of investing in infrastructure that supports growing populations, reduces congestion and improves travel times.

“This project will provide a major economic stimulus to the Canberra and Monaro region including an estimated 700 jobs to be created during the detailed design and construction phases.

“Projects like this are important to not only keep local people employed and businesses running, but also to provide the region’s community with better infrastructure and safer roads into the future.”

Quotes attributable to ACT Minister for Transport and City Services Chris Steel:

“The ACT Government is building the infrastructure our growing city needs with a contract now awarded to design and construct the new southbound flyover on the Monaro Highway at Lanyon Drive.

“Our investment in projects like this supports our growing population, improves safety and the efficient movement of people and freight.

“The Lanyon Drive flyover is part of a program of works to improve safety on the Monaro Highway by removing dangerous at-grade intersections and separating traffic turning across the highway, in and out of the Hume industrial precinct and NSW.

“With construction work on the project ramping up, I thank commuters in advance for their patience as we build a safer Monaro Highway.”

Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Bean David Smith:

“This is another example of the Albanese Labor Government and the ACT Government working together to deliver better infrastructure for our city.

“It’s good to see this important project kicking off, after a much needed upgrade that will benefit Tuggeranong and the surrounding region in bordering NSW.

“Both governments will continue to work together across the community and look forward to seeing more work get underway.”