Project status: Closed

How you had YourSay

Detailed design work is underway to duplicate the final 4.5 kilometre unduplicated section of William Hovell Drive between Drake-Brockman Drive and John Gorton Drive.

A draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Development Application (DA 202138722) were submitted in July 2021 with public notifications open until 30 September 2021.

Additional community consultation on this project was undertaken from 8 November to 19 December 2021.

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback during the consultation period. The What We Heard report is now available.

Stay updated on this project via the City Services website

The William Hovell Drive upgrade will support the growing regions of Molonglo Valley and West Belconnen including the new suburbs of Strathnairn and Macnamara. More than 20,000 vehicles per day travel on this section of road and this will increase as the area continues to develop. This project will improve safety for all road users with on-road cycle lanes and an off-road shared path included in the design.

Key features

  • Duplication of 4.5 kilometres of William Hovell Drive to complete its duplication from the Glenloch Interchange through to Drake-Brockman Drive.
  • A new nearly seven-kilometre, three-metre wide asphalt off-road shared path along William Hovell Drive between Drake-Brockman Drive and Bindubi Street.
  • On-road cycle lanes in both directions.
  • A new signalised intersection of Drake-Brockman Drive/Kingsford Smith Drive and William Hovell Drive.
  • Formalising access into the Old Weetangera Cemetery.
  • Improving and enhancing the Bicentennial National Trail underpass and approaches to minimise conflict between users, particularly in areas where the BNT interacts with the shared path.
  • Construction of nine architecturally designed retaining walls ensuring works remain within the road reserve and limit impacts on sensitive environmental areas.

The design for the William Hovell Drive upgrade has been through internal stakeholder engagement including with the Office of the Conservator of Flora and Fauna and Parks and Conservation Service. Many of the design elements reflect these conversations (such as removing access to the Kama and Pinnacle nature reserves from William Hovell Drive).

Your feedback was used to help us finalise the design ahead of resubmitting the EIS documentation.