Final stage of Horse Park Drive to get underway


Released 19/03/2018

The final stage of the Horse Park Drive duplication from Well Station Drive to the Federal Highway will begin in April 2018, completing the full upgrade of the road from the Federal Highway through to Katherine Avenue.

In addition, a series of safety improvements will be made to the section of Horse Park Drive next to Amaroo School to improve safety for school children in the growing Gungahlin region.

“I’m excited to announce the end is in sight with the final stage of Horse Park Drive about to begin,” said Minister for Transport and City Services Meegan Fitzharris.

“The final stage from Well Station Drive to the Federal Highway will include a new bridge over Sullivan’s Creek and a new shared path along the southern side of the road.

“With more than 18,000 vehicles travelling along Horse Park Drive every day, this final stage will fix the bottleneck issues that occur and make the commute much more pleasant for motorists.”

These works were originally planned to begin in mid-2017, however due to sensitive environmental issues involving high levels of acid sulphate found in the soil, additional time was needed to obtain approvals for managing this issue on site.

The improvements along this section of Horse Park Drive will include:

  • Duplication of the road to provide two lanes in each direction.
  • A new three metre wide shared path along the southern side (Kenny side) of Horse Park Drive.
  • A new road bridge and shared path bridge over Sullivan’s Creek.
  • Better access to the parking area for the Goorooyarroo Nature Park.

“I’m also pleased to say that the duplication of Horse Park Drive from Gundaroo Drive to Mulligan’s Flat Road will now be extended through to Katherine Avenue (west). This work is progressing well, and will include a number of safety features to ensure kids are safe on their way to and from school.

“We want to encourage more kids to ride or walk to school, and these works will help make this possible.”

The safety improvements on the section of Horse Park Drive near Amaroo School include:

  • An indented bus bay to improve driver sight and the safety of school kids and other pedestrians.
  • A signalised pedestrian crossing at the existing intersection near the entrance to the Amaroo playing fields.
  • Installation of fencing in the median strip between the Amaroo playing fields and the Roden Cutler Drive / Katherine Avenue intersection to prevent unsafe crossings.
  • Removal of median refuge islands and improved signalisation at these intersections so people can cross the road in one movement.
  • A reduced speed limit from 80km/h to 60km/h to ensure the safety of school children at this section of Horse Park Drive.

The duplication of Horse Park Drive began in 2016. The section between Well Station Drive and Anthony Rolfe Avenue has already been completed.

Minister Fitzharris thanked Gungahlin residents and motorists for their ongoing patience while these works are finished.

“As a Gungahlin local, I am very aware of the number of projects currently underway and the frustration that these disruptions can cause. I would like to thank everyone for their patience as we work towards making Gungahlin a more vibrant and accessible town centre,” said Minister Fitzharris.

“The good news is the end of these works is now in sight, with the entire Horse Park Drive duplication expected to be finished in first quarter of 2019,” said Minister Fitzharris.

Roadside signage will alert road users to the changed traffic arrangements. A speed limit of 40km/h will be in place during construction working hours (7am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday), returning to 60km/h outside these periods.

For information on the road upgrade projects underway in Gungahlin visit www.tccs.act.gov.au.

- Statement ends -

Meegan Fitzharris, MLA | Media Releases

Media Contacts

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Claire Johnston

(02) 6205 0022

0452 597 459

clairev.johnston@act.gov.au


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