Queanbeyan’s Monaro Street won’t be accessible to motorists for at least six months due to upgrades. Photo: QPRC.
Significant detours will stop motorists from using Queanbeyan’s main street for at least six months as long-awaited upgrades finally get underway from tomorrow (12 March).
The $17.5 million priority works will see both lanes of Monaro Street shut from the Lowe Street intersection (near the Queanbeyan Courthouse and police station) to the Atkinson Street roundabout (near Hungry Jack’s and Dominos).
Motorists have been urged to avoid the CBD and use alternative routes along Yass Road (towards Pialligo Avenue and Canberra Airport) and Ellerton Drive (bypassing Queanbeyan towards Jerrabomberra) if possible.
“During stage 1 of the construction, north-south travel on Crawford Street will still be available, but there will be no right or left turn onto Monaro Street,” an update from Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council stated.
“Our traffic modelling suggests that there will be traffic congestion at the Collett Street and Morisset Street roundabout, particularly during peak afternoon time.
“We encourage you to avoid this area where possible during peak times. We suggest that you allow at least an extra five minutes’ travel time.”
The diversion of vehicles travelling towards Civic, onto Yass Road and Pialligo Road, may also add to the disruptions already in place during the Commonwealth Bridge works.
Monaro Street’s footprint will remain the same, but the length of the street, from Lowe Street to Collett Street, will be upgraded.
“The existing alignment and traffic lights will remain. We will have a quieter road surface, modified medians, improved pedestrian crossings and footpaths. We will retain the existing parking,” the QPRC statement read.
“We are updating the stormwater drainage and in-ground services, and reducing the gutter height and improving accessibility.
“While this is a disruptive project in the short-term, in the long term, we will have a much better main street for everyone to enjoy.”
Council had considered improving one lane at a time, but this would have meant construction lasting 12 to 18 months.
Monaro Street businesses will remain open, and pedestrian access will be possible along Monaro Street and the Queens Bridge.
Parking won’t be available on Monaro Street during construction.
Workers are being encouraged to park behind the Collett Street bus interchange. Council is running a free coffee incentive from 23 March to 6 April, Monday to Friday, where the first 50 vehicles will receive a $6 voucher to spend at one of 14 cafes and takeaway businesses across the CBD.
Council will also open the Queanbeyan Showground gate onto Glebe Avenue to assist parents and carers who have children at St Gregory’s Primary School’s Lowe Street campus.
It will be open for exit purposes only, allowing cars to enter the showground parking area from Cooma Street and then exit through the other gate.
It’s hoped this will ease congestion on the main thoroughfare.
As for bus services, a CDC Canberra spokesperson advised Route 844 towards Bungendore would not be able to stop at Riverside Plaza while the works are underway.
“Passengers requiring this service will need to make their way to Queanbeyan Interchange and board at Bay 1,” they said.
“All other CDC Canberra services which operate along this route will be subject to detours via surrounding streets. These services will continue to stop at all allocated stops but may be subject to delays due to increased congestion while the works are undertaken.
“We apologise to passengers for any inconvenience this may cause.”
School route changes from Queanbeyan to various Canberra schools have been previously flagged and will come into effect from 24 March.
The Monaro Street refresh project has been funded through $10 million from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (through a 2020 grant), $2 million from Transport for NSW, and a $5.25 million loan to QPRC.
Original Article published by Claire Fenwicke on Region Canberra.
