Construction has begun on the first of three interchanges planned for the Monaro Highway, south of Canberra.

Work on the new Lanyon Drive Interchange has begun which will improve safety and reduce congestion.

This consists of a southbound flyover for the highway over Lanyon Drive and three intersection upgrades including:

• the removal of traffic lights at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (intersection of the Monaro Highway and David Warren Road)
• a new roundabout at the intersection of the new Monaro Highway southbound off-ramp and David Warren Road extension
• upgrading the signalised intersection at Lanyon Drive and Sheppard Street to include a direct connection to David Warren Road and the Monaro Highway southbound off-ramp.

The design aims to have a minimal impact on existing native plants.

The landscaping plans will focus on local and native species. They will prioritise tree planting, water sensitive urban design and biodiversity conservation.

Some of the construction work has already been completed or is underway. This includes:

• major water mains and telecommunication networks were relocated for protection in 2022
• two gas mains have been relocated
• early preparatory works, including site clearing and earthworks, started last month. This involves large machinery, including excavators and trucks.

Preliminary design is also underway on future interchanges at the Hume industrial precinct and Isabella Drive.

There will be impacts to travel times during construction. This includes during peak periods, with reduced speed limits and temporary lane closures expected.

The ACT Government is encouraging motorists to rethink their travel plans where possible and consider taking public transport or travelling outside peak times where possible.

The government expects construction to take about three years to complete. The design and construction phases are estimated to create 700 jobs.

For more details on this project, visit www.builtforcbr.act.gov.au.