Travel Impacts
Find out about road closures, detours, and other disruptions to travel related to infrastructure projects.
For road closures in other areas of the ACT, visit the City Services website.
Canberra Theatre Centre Transformation
Lyric theatre site investigations
Site investigations will take place on weekdays from 7 am to 4 pm, between Monday 14 July and Friday 1 August 2025, to support planning for the new lyric theatre.
These investigations will help test ground conditions and confirm the location of underground services, such as pipes, at the proposed site.
Learn more on Canberra Theatre Centre Transformation.
Impacts
14 July to Friday 18 July
- permit parking at The Playhouse loading dock will be unavailable
- access to Theatre Lane will be disrupted, with traffic controllers onsite to manage pedestrians and vehicles.
21 July to 25 July 2025
- up to 9 parking spaces will be unavailable per day in the Theatre Lane car park
- the Playhouse loading zone will be unavailable
- 21 and 22 July: Theatre Lane will be closed behind the Canberra Theatre Centre
- 21 to 25 July: Knowles Place (behind North Building) will be closed.
28 July to 1 August 2025
- pedestrians will be diverted from the footpath where Northbourne Avenue meets Vernon Circle
- up to 6 parking spaces will be unavailable per day in the Theatre Lane car park.
Monaro Highway
Traffic switch, northbound at the intersection of Monaro Highway and Lanyon Drive.
Date: From Monday 14 April 2025
Impacts
Northbound lanes of the Monaro Highway at the Lanyon Drive intersection will have temporary traffic lights and lane changes. These will remain for up to 15 months. They will assist the demolition and construction of a new bridge over Dog Trap Creek.
Road users travelling north towards Fyshwick, Symonston, Pialligo, Majura, Canberra city, and other suburbs are advised to plan ahead and expect delays in the morning peak period. These delays may be up to 8 minutes for northbound travel on the Monaro Highway and up to 10 minutes for westbound travel, towards Canberra on Lanyon Drive.
The speed limit will remain at 60km/h during peak travel periods. Outside of peak travel periods, the speed limit may be temporarily reduced to 40km/h. These changed traffic arrangements will only impact northbound traffic.
View the alternate routes map.
Light rail Stage 2A City to Commonwealth Park
Date: Ongoing
Construction has started on light rail to Commonwealth Park and works are ramping up to build this once in a generation asset for Canberra.
See below for details of ongoing construction impacts for the light rail project. For more details on planned construction works, visit the Light Rail to Woden website.
London Circuit closures
The entire western side of London Circuit is closed to regular traffic for the duration of construction. Some movement from West Row, through London Circuit to Knowles Place onto Edinburgh Avenue will be allowed.
Sections of London Circuit east between Northbourne Avenue and Theatre Lane are also closed to motorists and on-road cyclists.
These closures are in place to allow the relocation of underground services. London Circuit east will reopen to traffic in 2026 following streetscape improvements.
Northbourne Avenue traffic is reduced to two lanes each way between Alinga Street and Vernon Circle. Additional lane closures will occur intermittently to facilitate various portions of work.
Access maintained on London Circuit
- Access to businesses along London Circuit west and east remains uninterrupted and wayfinding signs are in place to assist customers.
- Electronic signage is in place around the city to alert approaching drivers about the closures.
- Motorists and cyclists can access Knowles Place north and Odgers Lane from West Row during construction. Occasional closures may be required to facilitate various portions of work, alternative access to Knowles Place and Odgers Lane will be provided.
- London Circuit east remains closed for motorists and on-road cyclists between Northbourne Avenue and Theatre Lane. Bus routes remain operational and access to Verity Lane remains open via Alinga Street during some works, and via London Circuit at any other time.
- Pedestrian and wheelchair access is available along and across London Circuit. Cyclists and e-scooter users should travel carefully in the area and reduce their speed.
- Access is maintained to the city bus and light rail interchange.
Parkes Way lane closure
- The leftmost lane on Parkes Way eastbound is closed for approximately 150 metres to the exit ramp onto Commonwealth Avenue for utility relocation works.
- This lane will be closed for several months. Two lanes of eastbound traffic will be retained throughout the duration of these works.
- Motorists will still be able to enter Parkes way via the ramp from Edinburgh Avenue and exit onto Commonwealth Avenue via the Parkes Way loop.
- Traffic speed will be reduced to 60 km/hr along Parkes Way during construction.
Commonwealth Avenue lane closures
- The northbound and southbound kerbside lanes (left lanes) on Commonwealth Avenue remain closed, with traffic reduced to 60 km/hr along Commonwealth Avenue for the duration of construction.
- Entry and exit to and from Corkhill Street to Commonwealth Avenue remains closed.
- Access to Henry Rolland Park and Acton Waterfront parking is available via Albert Street.
- Pedestrians will continue to be diverted around the existing footpath with signage in place to assist. Active travel along Commonwealth Avenue will be maintained.
- Some parking spaces at Regatta Place carpark and Commonwealth Park carpark south remain closed.
Athllon Drive duplication
Works are underway on detour footpaths between Drakeford Drive and Fincham Crescent, to improve the safety of pedestrians and cyclists when construction of adjacent community path (C4) improvement works begin as part of the enabling works package 2.
View the works map.
Changes to Callam Street traffic arrangements
To allow for the next stage of construction of the new Woden Public Transport Interchange, Callam Street in Woden will be temporarily closed to buses from Thursday, 19 June 2025.
The northern section (Launceston St to Matilda St) will reopen to buses later this year.
The southern section (near Bradley St) will remain closed to all non-construction traffic until the new interchange opens.
Buses are being redirected via Bowes St and Matilda St, to access the temporary interchange operating next to the new CIT Woden Campus.
Bus stop 2031 (Launceston Street after Irvine Street) will be temporarily closed from first service on Thursday, 19 June 2025 until further notice.
Passengers are advised to visit the Transport Canberra website - www.transport.act.gov.au - for further details.
Journey planning and support
Getting around the city
Check the interactive traffic impacts map for up-to-date information on road changes in the city centre relating to the construction of light rail and the Raising London Circuit project.
Information about road closures in other areas of the ACT is available on the City Services website.
Signage is also in place around the city to alert approaching drivers about current closures.
Changes to city parking
Find out which carparks are closed or have reduced capacity on the City Services website.
Parkopedia and the Easy Park app provide information on parking options within the city.
Accessible parking
Accessible parking for people with Australian Disability Parking Permits is available within alternate car parks.
Australian disability parking permit holders are also entitled to additional time in ordinary ACT Government time restricted parking spaces.
Find out more about parking permits on the Access Canberra website.
Changes to public transport
Bus services will be impacted by construction activities in and around the city. There are increased journey times and changes in bus service frequency. We have maintained service frequency during peak periods. Rapid buses continue to run at least every 15 minutes.
Find out more about public transport on the Transport Canberra website.
Rethink your routine
If possible, rethink your routine and travel outside peak times. Using public transport, walking, cycling or e-scooting are great ways to build new healthy habits. They will also reduce the amount of fuel you use and carbon emissions, while saving on parking.
Whether you are new to public transport or a seasoned traveller, we have everything you need to get started or back into the groove. This includes public transport, cycling and walking maps for the Canberra regions.
Find out more about travel around your area:
More details on public transport and active travel routes that will connect you to the city can be found at transport.act.gov.au.
You can also plan your journey in real time using a mapping platform such as Google Maps or Apple Maps.
Public transport service alerts
Stay up to date with the latest public transport service alerts.
Road closures
You may be impacted by other road closures. Remember to review your local road and footpath closures.
Disruption Taskforce
To manage impacts during the construction of projects across Canberra’s city centre, the ACT Government has established a multi-agency Disruption Taskforce. The taskforce will oversee the delivery of a comprehensive disruption management strategy. This involves working closely with local community, business and government representatives to develop and implement effective interventions and mitigations.
We are committed to minimising the impact on the community where possible. We are working closely with the Australian Government and private developments to coordinate construction programs, disruption, and communications activities.
The disruption will be significant, but once construction is completed, the city will be more vibrant, sustainable and connected.
Additional traffic lights
Traffic lights have been installed at the roundabout at Coranderrk Street and Parkes Way. These improve traffic flow during the raising of London Circuit and light rail construction by controlling the westbound right turn from Parkes Way into Coranderrk Street.
Temporary traffic lights have been installed on Vernon Circle to allow safe right-turns onto Constitution Avenue and London Circuit for vehicles heading north. A new bus lane is also helping public transport between Edinburgh Avenue and Constitution Avenue.
Improved traffic light monitoring
We've installed intelligent transport monitoring technology in key locations across central Canberra where congestion is likely.
Intersection cameras and Bluetooth sensors feed traffic insights to a central Traffic Operations Centre at Fyshwick.
Three travel time roadside signs have been installed on the Tuggeranong Parkway, Majura Parkway and Belconnen Way.
These devices provide motorists with up-to-date information about journey times and potential impacts.
Path upgrades
We are improving paths to and from the city to make walking and cycling easier. These improvements will focus on upgrading existing paths in the inner north and inner south areas.
Park and Ride
There are 22 Park and Ride locations across the ACT where you can park your car for free and catch public transport. Improved signage has been installed at key Park and Ride locations. Read more about Park and Ride.
E-scooters
The e-scooter hire scheme has rolled out to all town centres. It is helping to connect the community with Rapid bus routes and make it easier to get around for short trips.
Read more about e-scooters.
Workplace travel program
We have developed a workplace travel program for city-based employers and their staff. It provides resources to support new transport habits that will last into the future such as car-pooling, cycling and using public transport. Find out more about the workplace travel program.
School-based travel planning
We are engaging with school communities about construction works which may impact the travel of students, parents and teachers. This includes:
- working with schools that are likely to have their travel routines impacted
- raising awareness of the construction activities
- promoting and supporting other travel choices for students, parents and teachers.
Schools will receive ongoing support to deliver a suite of programs to support active travel and respond to safety concerns. Read more about school-based travel programs.
Business visits and engagement
ACT Government staff have been providing regular project updates to city-based businesses since 2021. Further business visits and key stakeholder liaison will continue as construction continues.
Sign up for project updates.
Pop-ups
Pop-up information stands will be coordinated near major workplaces as significant construction projects continue.
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