New traffic lights at the Coranderrk Street/Parkes Way intersection
New traffic lights have been installed at the roundabout intersection of Coranderrk Street and Parkes Way. These new lights help to improve traffic flows during the construction of raising London Circuit and light rail by controlling the westbound right turn from Parkes Way into Coranderrk Street.
Why?
Network analysis indicates traffic will increase significantly on Parkes Way during the construction of light rail, as lane closures and works on Commonwealth Avenue see vehicles diverted via routes including Kings Avenue, the Tuggeranong Parkway and the Monaro Highway.
Prior to signalisation, the roundabout with Coranderrk Street had a dominant westbound flow of traffic in the morning causing major congestion for eastbound traffic coming into the City and the Parliamentary Triangle from areas like Belconnen and Tuggeranong.
Installing traffic lights for the westbound right-turn movement from Parkes Way into Coranderrk Street will better regulate traffic flow and improve the capacity of the intersection as well as help cut delays at the intersection for faster and less frustrating commutes.
This will mean it can support the greater volumes of traffic expected during the construction of light rail and the raising of London Circuit. These traffic lights will operate dynamically, triggered by a queue of at least 100 metres on the eastbound approach. They will be set back approximately 20 metres from the roundabout. Once traffic passes the lights and enters the roundabout, normal give-way controls will be in place.
It is estimated an additional 250 eastbound vehicles will be able to exit Parkes Way onto Coranderrk Street to access the city each hour in the morning peak period during construction. This equates to a capacity increase of approximately 20 per cent, from 1,350 to 1,600 vehicles per hour.
New traffic lights at Vernon Circle
As part of the broader light rail works the ACT Government has temporarily signalised the northern side of Vernon Circle to allow safe right-turn movements onto Constitution Avenue and London Circuit for buses and other vehicles heading northbound.
A new bus lane also facilitates public transport movement in the area during the upcoming closure of London Circuit between Edinburgh Avenue and Constitution Avenue.
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