The ACT Government is gathering pace on Stage 2A of Canberra’s light rail network, with updated delivery plans released and the appointment of the technical advisers to facilitate the design and planning approvals.
The updated delivery schedule will see the first early works commence before the end of 2021, with planning and works approvals also planned to be lodged around October 2021.
Major construction works to raise London Circuit will start in 2022, followed by construction of the first 1.7km of the light rail line to Commonwealth Park.
At the same time, the ACT Government is getting on with delivering the new public transport interchange and light rail station at Woden, with construction works set to commence before the end of 2021.
Planning and design for the rest of the line to Woden will continue while these construction works are underway.
The ACT Government has also announced that AECOM has now been selected to facilitate the design and planning approvals for the entirety of Stage 2, an important project milestone which will kick up the pace of work over the next six months.
ACT Minister for Transport, Chris Steel, said, “It’s exciting to see our city’s biggest infrastructure project kicking into gear, which we expect will create over 6,000 jobs during design and construction.
“The benefits of this project will be long lasting for Canberra, with the creation of a frequent and reliable transport spine that better connects our major town centres and residential and employment hubs.
“We are releasing the updated Stage 2A delivery plan now so that Canberrans can understand the different stages required for construction, and the work they can expect to start seeing over the coming year.”
Minister Steel said that AECOM has been selected as the project’s technical adviser because of the firm’s proven track record on delivering light rail projects and securing high quality infrastructure outcomes for the community.
“We are committed to local industry participation in the project. AECOM has an established office here in Canberra where they will engage more than 160 locally-based specialists to deliver the different stages of this significant project.”
AECOM’s Canberra Area Manager, Karen Billington, said the company was honoured to be selected by the ACT Government to design Stage 2 of light rail between the City and Woden.
“It is an opportunity to give back to the community around us and further enhance Canberra’s status as one of the world’s most liveable and competitive cities,” Ms Billington said.
“We are looking forward to sharing our insights from other light rail projects and working on this transformational major infrastructure project which combines urban design, placemaking, heritage, sustainability, environment and engineering.”
ACT Senator, Zed Seselja, said, “Infrastructure investment is critical to support jobs and the economy as we recover from the impacts of COVID-19, and I’m proud the Australian Government is committed to investing in Canberra.
“Our $132.5 million commitment to Stage 2A of light rail is just part of the Australian Government’s $1.4 billion Canberra infrastructure bonanza, backing local jobs and our local economy.”
The ACT Government has also developed a new virtual tour of the upcoming works to give Canberrans an understanding of what this project will deliver.
The new flythrough shows further detail on the designs that the State Government will be taking forward into federal and state planning approvals in late-2021.
It also shows three new traffic light intersections with London Circuit at West Row, University Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue, which will prioritise light rail vehicles and improve accessibility for pedestrians.
The updated delivery timeline for key aspects of Stage 2 is available here.
The project is part of the ACT Government’s $14 billion Infrastructure Plan and contributes to its commitment to grow Canberra’s employment base to 250,000 jobs by 2025.
Building light rail to Woden is a 2020 parliamentary agreement item.
Stage 2A City to Commonwealth Park is jointly funded by the ACT Government and the Federal Government.
