William Hovell Drive duplication

Funding: $107.25 million, jointly funded by the Australian and ACT governments.

4.5 kilometres of William Hovell Drive will be duplicated from Drake-Brockman Drive to John Gorton Drive.

The project will improve safety, travel times and relieve congestion for road users.

Current updates

• Canberra Contractors has been appointed to construct the William Hovell Drive duplication project, between John Gorton Drive and Drake Brockman Drive.
• Early works are underway, including surveying, dilapidation assessments and setting up site compounds. These activities will continue into early 2026.
• Main construction will start once early works are finished and pre-construction approvals are in place.

Community benefits

The duplication of William Hovell Drive will:

• relieve the morning and afternoon congestion between West Belconnen and the City
• improve overall road alignment, capacity and safety
• reduce rate of vehicular crashes
• promote active travel and support sustainable transport
• support wildlife movements between The Pinnacle and Kama nature reserves.

Project features

• duplication of 4.5 kilometres of William Hovell Drive from Drake-Brockman Drive to John Gorton Drive
• a new asphalt off-road path along William Hovell Drive between Drake-Brockman Drive and John Gorton Drive
• active travel provisions in both directions
• a signalised intersection of Drake-Brockman Drive/Kingsford Smith Drive and William Hovell Drive
• improving access into the Old Weetangera Cemetery
• improving the Bicentennial National Trail underpass to minimise conflict between users
• maintaining fauna connectivity with a “critter crossing” under the road and rope bridges above the road, which is the first in the ACT
• constructing retaining walls to ensure works remain within the road reserve and limit impacts on sensitive environmental areas.

Community engagement

A draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Development Application (DA) were submitted in 2021, followed by a public notification period.

Consultation on this project took place via YourSay Conversations in 2021. See the What We Heard report for a summary of the feedback received. The revised EIS and Impact Track DA were renotified by the Planning Directorate in 2022. You can read more on the planning website.

Reports and publications

Annual Compliance Report 2025

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• Email the project team at InfrastructureCanberra@act.gov.au