William Hovell Drive Duplication

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

The project will duplicate 4.5 km of William Hovell Drive between Drake-Brockman Drive and John Gorton Drive.

The additional road capacity aims to ease congestion and improve travel times and safety.

Current updates

• Concrete barriers are in place along the 4.5 km route. Follow signs and directions from traffic controllers.
• Reduced speed limits apply through the work area.
• Pedestrian detours are in place via Belconnen Way, Kingsford Smith Drive, Murranji Street and Florina Place.

Check the current travel impacts before you travel.

Community benefits

The duplication of William Hovell Drive will:

• ease traffic between West Belconnen and the city during peak times
• improve safety
• make walking and cycling easier
• help wildlife move between The Pinnacle and Kama nature reserves.

Project features

• new lanes between Drake-Brockman Drive and John Gorton Drive
• a new path beside William Hovell Drive
• paths and crossings for people walking and cycling in both directions
• traffic lights where William Hovell Drive meets Drake-Brockman Drive and Kingsford Smith Drive
• better access to Old Weetangera Cemetery
• changes to the Bicentennial National Trail underpass to help people share it safely
• a crossing under the road and rope bridges above it to help wildlife move between nature reserves
• walls to keep roadworks within the road area and protect nearby natural areas.

Community engagement

The draft Environmental Impact Statement and Development Application were open for public comment in 2021. Read the What We Heard report for a summary of the feedback.

The Planning Directorate opened the revised documents for public comment again in 2022. Read more about the William Hovell Drive planning process.

Reports and publications

• Annual Compliance Report 2025
• Annual Compliance Report 2026
• William Hovell Drive Duplication Offset Management Plan 2026
• Box–Gum Woodland clearing tracking data - August 2026
• Habitat clearing tracking data - August 2026

For an accessible version of a report or publication, please contact infrastructurecanberra@act.gov.au

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