The Design

Why are we upgrading William Hovell Drive?

  • To improve the overall road alignment, capacity and safety.
  • To reduce the rate of vehicular crashes.
  • To relieve the morning and afternoon congestion between West Belconnen and the City.
  • To promote active travel and support sustainable transport.

Key features of the project

  • 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.
  • Improve and enhance 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 following changes have been made to the design in response to feedback received:

  • the alignment of the off-road shared path between Drake-Brockman Drive and the underpass adjacent to Hawker has been relocated to the western side of William Hovell Drive (away from residences and the off-leash dog walking area). The ACT Government will mitigate the conflicts on the Bicentennial National Trail and equestrian users in the design as much as possible. The new alignment remains subject to final approvals.
  • following further discussions with the ACT Conservator of Flora and Fauna, additional measures will be implemented to facilitate movements of wildlife between The Pinnacle and Kama nature reserves.

Still to be finalised are:

  • additional noise monitoring activities were undertaken in February 2022 with the analysis currently underway ahead of confirming the necessary noise mitigation treatments
  • a landscaping plan which will include trees required for removal and how they will be offset with additional plantings (noting 59 mature trees have been identified for removal and will be replaced with 590 new trees, at a ratio of 1:10)
  • a construction methodology to minimise traffic disruption which will be undertaken as part of the procurement for a construction contractor.
Lanes of William Hovell Drive

Frequently asked questions

Active travel

Environment

Noise

Roads and public transport

Construction