The missing link between Kuringa Drive and Barton Highway has been discussed since at least 2016 and now tied with an intersection upgrade. Neither has started. The intersection looks as it was four years ago. ACT Labor’s promises are worth little if nothing gets done over the parliamentary term.
Contents
- What are missing links?
- Kuringa Drive status from a site visit
- History of Kuringa Drive
- Pedal Power ACT advocacy
- The intersection
Missing links
Missing links describes gaps in the cycling network, and those gaps can be quite short. Adding another 100 m of path, connecting two other bike paths, makes a network. Without this short link, a cyclist may need to ride a much great distance.
Filling the gap and building a cycling path to form a network does not need to be expensive and it is very worthwhile. The value of fixing the missing link far exceeds the construction costs as it makes the whole path network more attractive to cyclists.
ACT Labor promised to build several missing links at the 2016 ACT Election. There are many missing links in the ACT cycling network.
Kuringa Drive
- Status update 11 October 2020: in planning.
- Opened: The construction is yet to start.
- Visual appearance: Apart from a sign announcing the project nothing has changed.
- Scope: The signalisation of the intersection is paid for in part by the Federal Government and will make the intersection safer. Apart from that nothing has changed from the original proposal. The signalisation of the intersection does not in any way increase the length of the bike path. It will not connect at Dixon Drive to other bike paths.
Kuringa Drive off-road bike path between Barton Highway in the north and Kingsford Smith Drive in the south is coming but still in planning. It provides an important connection between the western suburbs of Belconnen and Gungahlin. Kuringa Drive crosses CSIRO Commonwealth land. The development of this land was blocked by the ACT Government.
History
ACT Labor promised much at the last ACT Election and a great many of the project have still not been completed. The same projects have been rolled out again for this election. They do not seem in any hurry to get it done.
“Labor would also spend $6 million across the city on road resealing. It says a million square metres of roads were resurfaced on its watch last year. It would schedule intersection upgrades at Kuringa Drive and Owen Dixon Drive (Belconnen); Southern Cross Drive and Starke Street (Belconnen); Belconnen Way and Springvale Drive (Belconnen)…”
William Slim Drive duplication leads list of road promises, The RiotACT, 30 September 2016
The history of projects sliding backwards can be seen even in this year on the ACT Government website for the Kuringa Drive/Owen Dixon Drive intersection signalisation. Projects are rarely finished on time.
Accessed 25/6/2020
“Construction
Expected start date: mid 2020
Expected completion date: late 2020″
Accessed 12/10/2020
“Construction
Expected start date: late 2020
Expected completion date: mid 2021″
Kuringa Drive/Owen Dixon Drive intersection signalisation, ACT Govenment
Pedal Power ACT
Pedal Power ACT has repeatedly reminded the ACT Government about the Kuringa Drive bike path with every budget submission. It was discussed back at the 2016 ACT Election too. Most recently, Pedal Power ACT wrote to Minister Steel regarding the COVID-19 economic stimulus package.
Bicentennial National Trail
Bicentennial National Trail passes through this area between Charnwood and Hall. It runs along quite some distance along Kuringa Drive. There is a bit of a detour to cross Owen Dixon Drive.
Riding the Bicentennial National Trail is permitted but the surface is dirt like this or grass (sometimes uncut) along the most of its length.
The intersection
Kuringa Drive and Owen Dixon Drive intersection itself has not changed.
