The Monaro Highway flyover will eliminate a traffic light stop on the southbound journey. Photo: iCBR.
A key component of the $260.5 million Monaro Highway Upgrade Program will open to traffic on Wednesday (4 November), making the drive to Canberra’s southern suburbs easier and safer for the 30,000 vehicles a day that use the vital transport corridor.
The new southbound Monaro Highway flyover at the Lanyon Drive Interchange should reduce delays for commuters, freight operators and visitors travelling between Canberra, Queanbeyan and southern NSW.
The 196-metre-long flyover will allow southbound through-traffic to bypass the traffic lights at the Lanyon Drive intersection, while those travelling to Queanbeyan and Jerrabomberra will continue to use the existing roadway to turn left at Lanyon Drive.
Southbound cyclists will temporarily remain on the existing southbound roadway and will be able to continue south by travelling through the existing traffic lights at the Lanyon Drive/Monaro Highway intersection. But they are expected to be able to travel over the bridge early next year.
A feature of the flyover is the Indigenous artwork, developed in consultation with Ngunnawal elders and community representatives, incorporated into Corten steel panels across the flyover, reflecting Ngunnawal stories and connection to the Monaro corridor.
Standing on the fresh tarmac, ACT City and Government Services Minister Tara Cheyne said the flyover would have wide-ranging benefits not just for ACT road users.
Ms Cheyne said people travelling from both the Cooma or Queanbeyan sides would benefit from the changed traffic arrangements.
She said the southbound journey would now be smooth and uninterrupted, with no waiting at traffic lights.
“If you are turning, obviously, into Queanbeyan and Jerrabomberra, you will still be going through those traffic lights, but for all of our Lanyon Valley residents and those in the south of Tuggeranong, heading south is going to be smoother.
“It’ll be a more reliable journey. It’ll be more efficient,” she said.
Ms Cheyne acknowledged that motorists had endured some pain over the past few years, but the traffic management had been well handled.
The flyover opening would allow the contractor, Wodens, to switch to the northbound side and complete works on Dog Trap Creek Bridge so it could open before Christmas.
The remaining elements of the initial interchange works should be completed in mid-2027.
Ms Cheyne did not expect new bottlenecks to develop further south.
Given the multiple projects underway across the ACT, the road network was handling the traffic demands well.
“We’ve had a really close look at how all of the traffic movements are responding to a lot of projects being underway at once, and overall, the network is handling it well, but this will make it handle it even better because we will have that smoother, more reliable journey for Canberrans heading south,” she said.
Federal environmental approvals for the balance of the Lanyon Drive Interchange have recently been received.
Heritage and geotechnical investigations as well as final designs for the remaining interchange works are now underway.
Construction of these remaining works, including the extension of David Warren Road, the new southbound off-ramp to Lanyon Drive, and the removal of the traffic signals at the Alexander Maconochie Centre, is expected to commence in 2028.
Planning is also underway for future upgrades along the Monaro Highway to support long-term transport needs, improve connectivity and enhance access for surrounding communities.
The Monaro Highway Upgrade Program is jointly funded by the Australian and ACT governments.
