Molonglo Valley Active Transport Routes

We do not yet have a master plan for active travel for the Molonglo Valley. What we do have is Molonglo 3 East Design Concept Plan which includes a proposed network of Main and Local Community Routes. From this we have constructed maps of the active transport options around 2041 when, hopefully, the majority of Molonglo 3 East is finished.

Below you will find 3 maps showing the cycle infrastructure and the cycle network staging / timeline planned for Molonglo 3 East. The cycle network development will be dependent on the suburb staging. This analysis and prediction is derived from the information found in the Phase 1 Molonglo 3 East Planning and Infrastructure Study (WSP, March 2021).

List of figures

• Figure 1: Molonglo 3 East cycle infrastructure overview
• Figure 2: Molonglo 3 East western exit
• Figure 3: Molonglo 3 East northern exit
• Figure 4: Molonglo 3 East, eastern exit
• Figure 5: Molonglo 3 East, southern exit
• Figure 6: Auxiliary network, Molonglo 3 East cycle network 2041
• Figure 11 Cycling network, WSP, Phase1 Outcomes Report

Cycle network maps

Figure 1 shows Molonglo 3 East without the East West Arterial Interchange on the Tuggeranong Parkway. This interchange is a very complicated project, as it requires 2 new bridges: the duplication of the Tuggeranong Parkway bridge and the East West Arterial Bridge at Molonglo point. Because this interchange and the 2 bridges will be built so late, the priority is to find another way to ride out of Molonglo 3 East from day one to avoid car dependency (sentiments shared by the National Capital Design Review Panel). Molonglo 3 East will be staged and built from north-west to south-east over a 20-year period. What can we expect during this period.

Molonglo 3 East cycle infrastructure annotated with information from Figure 11 cycling network , Appendix C – WSP, Options Report, Molonglo 3 East Planning and Infrastructure Study, July 2020,, 27. Map: VeloMap, OpenStreetMap and contributors.

Figure 2: Molonglo 3 East western exit. Completed with Stage 1, ETA 2025.

Figure 2: Molonglo 3 East western exit. Completed with Stage 1, ETA 2025. canberra.bike, 31 August 2021. Map: VeloMap, OpenStreetMap and contributors.

Figure 3: Molonglo 3 East northern exit. Completed with Stage 3, ETA 2030-35. After completion of Stage 2.

Figure 3: Molonglo 3 East northern exit. Completed with Stage 2 and 3. ETA 2030. canberra.bike, 31 August 2021. Map: VeloMap, OpenStreetMap and contributors.

Figure 4: Molonglo 3 East, eastern exit. Connects to the south section of the Southern Corridor. Completed with Stage 4. ETA is hard to predict.

Figure 4: Molonglo 3 East, eastern exit. Connects to the south section of the Southern Corridor ie Stage 3 and 4. ETA is hard to predict. canberra.bike, 31 August 2021. Map: VeloMap, OpenStreetMap and contributors.

Figure 5: Molonglo 3 East, southern exit. Connects to the south section of the Southern Corridor (Stage 5). ETA is hard to predict. Many questions here:

1. It is not clear how the proposed path should cross the river.
2. The bike path lies in the East West Arterial construction corridor.

Molonglo 3 East southern exit. The lack of bridges across the Molonglo River would leave little choice but the low level Clos Crossing. Bridges that cross the Molonglo River Reserve require an EIS exemption which is very hard to get. canberra.bike, Map: OpenStreetMap and contributors.

In 20 years time, it is hoped that the all 3 new bridges and 2 new interchanges will be finished. Just the John Gorton Drive Bridge will cost $170 million.

The CBR Cycle Route C10 City to Molonglo may be finished by this time (we hope). Molonglo 3 East’s infrastructure should be largely built, even the southern most section, and the construction of the Group Centre may have begun (group centres tend to be built last). The size of this Future Urban Areas should not be underestimated, and with it the construction period.

Figure 6: Zoomed out, showing the auxiliary network around Molonglo 3 East cycle network 2041. The bridges over the Molonglo River are marked with YELLOW crosses. The design is from recently released documents from August 2021. canberra.bike. OpenStreetMap and contributors. Created 28 August 2021.

Finally, figure 11 cycling network, below, shows what we know about the cycling network at this time (31 August 2021). The Molonglo 3 East Concept Plan is still in work with ACT Planning and will be informed by civil works and traffic study tenders in 2022. The earliest date for the Concept Plan (statutory document) is 2022, but may come later. The Active Travel Master Plan (not statutory) is also in work. The Active Travel Master Plan is sure to be interesting.

Figure 11 cycling network , Appendix C – WSP, Options Report, Molonglo 3 East Planning and Infrastructure Study, July 2020, 27.

Molonglo 3 East Concept Plan

The Molonglo 3 East Concept Plan is still in development. 2022 may see it finalised and added to the Territory Plan. We expect the interest in Molonglo 3 East to grow and provide here a snapshot of where things stand.

The recent preliminary concept plan from the Outcomes Report, Molonglo 3 East Planning and Infrastructure Study (March 2021) already provides some clarity and represents the preferred design of the ACT Government at this time. More work is to be done.

Figure 11.1 Molonglo 3 East design concept plan, Outcomes Report, Molonglo 3 East Planning and Infrastructure Study, March 2021, 88

11.1 CONCEPT PLAN

Key elements of the Molonglo 3 East Design Concept Plan (figure 11.1) are:

– Bindubi Street Extension connects to the northern end of John Gorton Drive serving local traffic in the north
– The secondary Collector Road connects from the southern end of John Gorton Drive past the group centre to the proposed East-West Arterial serving the majority of neighbourhood units
– Collector Roads are in the centre of neighbourhoods to provide maximum access to public transport located along this road
– A slow speed collector road joins these Collector Roads past the schools and group centre
– This road will only service local traffic and buses within this central zone as all other neighbourhoods can exit Molonglo 3 via the main Collector Roads
– The Intertown Public Transport (ed. light rail) corridor de-couples from the road reserve past the primary school and group centre with a stop terminating at a linear open space between the group centre and primary school
– Density is in areas of high amenity and access to public transport

Outcomes Report, Molonglo 3 East Planning and Infrastructure Study, March 2021, 88.

WSP, Phase 1 Outcomes Report, Molonglo 3 East Planning and Infrastructure Study, March 2021Download