Caretaker

On 13 September 2024, the ACT Government assumed a caretaker role, with an election to be held 19 October 2024. Information on this website will be published in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions until after the election and conclusion of the caretaker period.

Athllon Drive duplication


Current update

Southern section: Enabling works on the southern section of the Athllon Drive duplication project between Sulwood Drive and Drakeford Drive have been funded in the 2024-25 ACT Budget, with $8.6 million jointly funded by the ACT and Australian Governments. Detailed design is also progressing, ahead of environmental and planning approvals being submitted.

Enabling works for the southern section of the Athllon Drive duplication between Sulwood Drive and Drakeford Drive are commencing in October 2024 and are expected to take 4 months to complete (weather permitting). The works are taking place to make future construction safer for workers, as well as path and road users. These main construction works are anticipated to commence in 2025.

Construction of the first package of enabling works involves upgrading the walking and cycling path on the northern side of Athllon Drive, between Sulwood Drive and Atkins Street. Additional packages of enabling works, including new path connections, missing links, path lighting and utility service relocations will commence in the coming months.

To facilitate the first package of works there will be two stages of path detours. These pedestrian and cyclist detours are shown in the maps below. Signage will be in place to detour pedestrians and cyclists where required.

After the first package of enabling works is complete, there will be other temporary changes required for the additional enabling works packages.

Further updates will be provided on this page.

Northern section: The detailed design options assessment is underway, ahead of environmental and planning approvals to be lodged in 2025. A preliminary design will be prepared and shared with the community in early 2025, prior to planning and environmental approvals being sought. The planning and environmental approvals and final design will be required prior to the commencement of construction.

Prior to this, intersection upgrades at Shea Street to facilitate the reopening of the Woden Bus Depot have commenced construction and are anticipated to be complete before the end of 2024.

Page last reviewed 22 Oct 2024

Project description

Construction is underway on Athllon Drive duplication.

This project is the duplication and upgrade of the 2 remaining unduplicated sections of Athllon Drive:

  • the southern section between Sulwood Drive and Drakeford Drive in Tuggeranong, which is approximately 2.4 kilometres long.
  • the northern section from Hindmarsh Drive to Melrose Drive adjacent to the Phillip business district, which is approximately 600 metres long.

This will improve travel times and safety for all transport modes including walking, cycling, public transport and driving, as well as considering light rail which is planned to be constructed in this transport corridor in the future.

Athllon Drive is a busy arterial road extending south from the Woden Town Centre, past the Mawson Group Centre, through to the Tuggeranong Town Centre. Two rapid bus routes, cyclists and nearly 2,000 vehicles currently use this road every hour during peak periods.

The current developments in Greenway and around Woden are generating additional demand within this arterial transport corridor. Future development in and around Athllon Drive is also identified in the Woden and Tuggeranong District Strategies. The residents who move into these areas of urban infill in the future will also generate additional demand within this arterial transport corridor.

The unduplicated sections of the road are bottlenecks which result in congestion, travel time delays and reduced safety and amenity in the area.

Southern section: Sulwood Drive to Drakeford Drive

Detailed design began in 2023. We are currently preparing for the submission of planning and environmental approvals for the southern section of the upgrade. A public notification period is a requirement of the planning approval process.

Numerous site investigations have been undertaken to inform the design, including measuring Gang-gang Cockatoo hollows in trees, undertaking road pavement assessments and noise monitoring.

The main construction works are expected to take around 2-3 years to complete and are subject to environmental and planning approvals and successful procurement processes.

Preliminary design

View the preliminary design (PDF 585.7 KB).

In addition to duplicating Athllon Drive to provide 2 lanes in both directions, the following features are proposed:

  • A new underpass to provide a free-flowing active travel route via the C4 walking and cycling path under Sulwood Drive.
  • Part-time traffic lights on the Athllon Drive/Sulwood Drive roundabout to improve traffic flow.
  • New bus stops in the vicinity of the underpasses between the Sulwood Drive and Langdon Avenue/Atkins Street intersections to improve public transport access.
  • New traffic lights at the Athllon Drive/Langdon Avenue/Atkins Street intersection.
  • The southbound Park and Ride bus stop will be rebuilt on the new duplicated carriageway, and the northbound stop will be retained.
  • New traffic lights at the Athllon Drive/Vosper Street and Athllon Drive/Fincham Crescent intersections.
  • Widening and upgrade of existing underpass bridges and constructing a new bridge for the duplicated carriageway.
  • Improvements to the C4 walking and cycling path and connecting paths.
  • Water quality measures to reduce pollution from water run-off from Athllon Drive to Lake Tuggeranong.

Additional information

View and download the engagement report (548.6 KB) for the southern section of Athllon Drive.

Northern section: Hindmarsh Drive to Melrose Drive

Concept design

  • Duplication of traffic lanes on Athllon Drive.
  • Signalisation of the Melrose Drive intersection (with a retaining wall adjacent to Yarralumla Creek).
  • Upgrade bus stops for rapid and local bus services.
  • Upgrade the intersection at Shea Street.
  • Active travel provisions for cyclists and pedestrians including paths and crossings via the intersections.
  • Signalise the intersection of Parramatta Street and Athllon Drive.
  • Bus priority measures.
  • Adjustments to pedestrian bridge over Yarralumla Creek including linkages to paths and new Parramatta Street intersection traffic signals.
  • Provide raised median between carriageways.

Stay updated

If you’d like to stay updated on this project, bookmark this page or email us at communityengagement@act.gov.au to be included in the project’s email updates.

Maps

Click on a map below to view full screen.

Stage 1 pedestrian and cyclist detours

Map showing pedestrian and cyclist detours along Athllon Drive with path closures between Deuchar Close and Horton Close.

Stage 2 pedestrian and cyclist detours

Map showing pedestrian and cyclist detours along Athllon Drive witht he pathway closed near Deuchar Close and Horton Close.

Images

Click on an image below to view full screen.

Athllon Drive Aerial view of Athllon Dr with text boxes Athllon Drive round-about render with text boxesAthllon Drive render with text boxes Athllon Drive render with red car on road and text boxes Athllon Drive and Vosper Street render with text boxesAthllon Drive