Steve Whan announced $10 million in new funding from the NSW Government, adding to the $3.5 million set aside in the ACT's 2008/09 budget, and the $23.3 million previously announced by the Rudd Government, which includes $7 million provided to the ACT Government, totalling $36.8 million currently being spent on safety upgrades.
The funding addresses road safety improvements required for the Federal Government's new Defence HQ approximately 10km east of Queanbeyan which is due to commence operating in late 2008 and be fully operational by early 2009.
The defence facility will be operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week, however the majority of its 750 strong workforce will be on site during normal business hours.
The NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) says that "there will be a significant increase in traffic on the Kings Highway between the facility and Queanbeyan and, to a lesser extent, to the east towards Bungendore and on Macs Reef Road. As a result, traffic volumes could be expected to increase from 800 to 1400 in the am and pm hourly peaks."
ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope welcomed the new spirit of cooperation that exists between the Federal Government and the States and Territories, saying local motorists will be the ultimate winner.
"There is no political point scoring, no political grandstanding and no political buck-passing, just three Labor Governments committed to fixing a problem in the region" Jon Stanhope said. "This is a major investment in local road safety which will see the Kings Highway able to cope with more traffic in safer conditions, Jon Stanhope said.
Federal Member for Eden-Monaro, Mike Kelly, said "the ACT and NSW Governments should never have been expected to address the Defence HQ's traffic problems by themselves, Mike Kelly said.
The co-operative funding has enabled road shoulder widening (work which is soon scheduled for completion) between Weetalabah Drive and the ACT border.
Options are also under examination for Captains Flat Road and The Ridgeway intersections, as well as the realignment between Thurralilly Street and Regent Drive near Queanbeyan.
The existing Kings Highway between Thurralilly Street and Regent Drive has a poor alignment with no opportunities for overtaking. It is proposed to realign the Kings Highway onto an old road corridor to improve the alignment. An overtaking lane for eastbound traffic is also proposed.
Intersection improvements at Captains Flat Road would involve altering the existing T-intersection into a roundabout. The proposal includes slip lanes for eastbound traffic and left turning traffic from Captains Flat Road. The Captains Flat Road left slip lane would be extended to become an overtaking lane for westbound traffic between Captains Flat Road and The Ridgeway. All other traffic movements would travel through the roundabout.
At The Ridgeway, an option to ban the right turn movement out of The Ridgeway is being considered. Residents would be able to turn left and travel to the Captains Flat Road roundabout to travel west into Queanbeyan, providing a safer manoeuvre for vehicles travelling to Queanbeyan. Submissions which closed on Monday.
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