The construction of the Belconnen Bikeway started last year and some progress has been made. The separated bike and pedestrian paths along the old bus road are finished but not open. Construction has started on Emu Bank. The section through the University of Canberra is largely finished.
Update 6 February 2021 Belconnen Bikeway
The construction of Belconnen Bikeway along Emu Bank was finished just before the Christmas 2020, however, we are still waiting on the start of the construction of another section along Benjamin Way that was promised back at the 2016 ACT Election.
Update 5 August 2021 Belconnen Bikeway Project Costs
Part 2C Capital Works, TCCS 2019-2020 Annual Report, 255.
Building a better city – Active Travel – Belconnen bikeway
Revised pratical completion date: Sep 2018
Total expenditure: $250,000
Comment: likely design work
Part 2C Government Contracting, TCCS 2019-2020 Annual Report, 268.
Belconnen bikeway – superintendency
Contractor: Cardno Pty Ltd
Value: $197,162.40
Period 24/7/2019 to 1/7/2021
Belconnen bikeway – construction
Contractor: Cord Civi Pty Ltd
Value: $6,218,631.36
Period 9/9/2019 to 9/7/2021
Total project cost: $6,665,793.76
One section of the Belconnen Bikeway along Benjamin Way is still in doubt. The CBR Cycle Route C5 from Aranda along Benjamin Way will join at Emu Bank (see last photo below).
The ACT Government has a dedicated project page for the Belconnen Bikeway. The Belconnen Bikeway is an important missing link and one of ACT Labor’s election promises from 2016.
2004 Benjamin Way missing link
The CBR Cycle Route C5 is the new name for a cycle path built by the predecessor of the NCA between Belconnen and the Lake Burley Griffin and provides a Principal Community Route between Belconnen Town Centre and the City.
The CBR Cycle Route C5 infamously ends halfway along Benjamin Way. This is typical of the bike infrastructure built in Canberra – the bike paths generally stop at the edge of the town centre. A more recent example is the Principal Community Routes to Gungahlin Town Centre (C7 and C1). The Molonglo Group Centre Concept Plan also has bike paths stopping at the edge of the Molonglo Town Centre precinct. We have learnt nothing in 40 years of building town centres.
The Belconnen public consultation, 16 February 2004, requested the completion of the bike path along Benjamin Way to Emu Bank. This request has been echoed in every consultation since, including the consultation for the Belconnen Town Centre Master Plan, the consultation for the Belconnen Bike Way, the SLA “Circus Precinct” consultation from 2020.
Why is 18 years not enough?
canberra.bike 