A few years of "disruptive" works to duplicate a major bottleneck and crash site will be worth the wait for Belconnen commuters, ACT ministers say.
ACT deputy leader and MacGregor resident Yvette Berry said three-year works to duplicate 4.5 kilometres of William Hovell Drive, which begin on Monday, will create a "bit of chaos" but also address a significant traffic bottleneck in Canberra's east.
The road will be closed between John Gorton Drive and Drake-Brockman Drive in both directions from 8pm to 6am Monday, May 25, to Saturday, May 30, to allow for major construction.
Transport Canberra said bus users might experience some delays but services will continue as normal, and no stops will be missed.
The works include adding traffic lights at the intersection of William Hovell Drive, Drake-Brockman Drive and William Hovell Drive; an improved Bicentennial National Trail underpass; improved access to the underpass and Old Weetangera Cemetery; and wildlife crossings.
Many Canberrans use William Hovell to travel to and from Molonglo, Belconnen and the city, and get on the Glenloch Interchange towards Woden and Tuggeranong. There have been several crashes on the road in recent years.
"I'm a regular commuter along this road, so I look forward to seeing the project when it ends. Of course, it will be disruptive and there'll be a bit of chaos to manage," Ms Berry said.
"We just ask for a little bit more patience from our community while we work through this project and look forward to having a nice, easy drive to work in a couple of years' time."
Works are expected to take three years and cost $107.25 million, jointly funded by the ACT and federal governments.
ACT City and Government Services Minister Tara Cheyne said 20,000 cars already travel on William Hovell Drive every day.
Long-term projections predict Belconnen's population, which was about 111,000 in June 2025, could hit 185,000 in June 2065. There could also be another 79,000 people living in the Molonglo Valley.
"There is going to be a few years of disruption, but Canberra contractors will do whatever they can to make sure that's not as disruptive as it could otherwise be," Ms Cheyne said.
"What people will largely see is lane switching and fewer full road closures."
The project was supposed to be finished in 2026, but Ms Cheyne said delays had been caused by environment approvals and work to ensure there were bike and travel pathways.
There will be wombat underpasses, and rope bridges for possums and gliders and perhaps "a really ambitious wombat," the minister joked.
Bike and walking pathways will connect Kalma Nature Reserve (south-west of Whitlam) and the Pinnacle Nature Reserve (north of Whitlam, south of Belconnen).
"We really hope that people, especially with e-scooters and our e-bikes, using them correctly of course, that we see people making use of that technology," Ms Cheyne said.
