Molonglo bridge to link Denman Prospect, Whitlam to start work in 2023

ACT City Services Minister Chris Steel told the territory's parliament the bridge that will link Denman Prospect to Whitlam could be opened by 2025.

This is later than what was anticipated in the ACT government's $14 billion 10-year infrastructure plan, released in 2019, which said: "design and construction is expected to commence in 2020-21 and be completed in 2024".

It comes after Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the infrastructure plan would be reworked in response to the significant shifts of the coronavirus pandemic.

The federal government pledged $87.5 million towards the Molonglo River bridge crossing in last year's budget. The ACT government then matched that commitment in the territory budget.

The first significant tranche of that money has been spent on employing consultants to conduct enabling works to allow for the bridge's construction.

The ACT government has paid consultants SMEC Australia $6.5 million to prepare tender documents for the design and construct phases of the project, and to oversee the tender selection process.

READ MORE:

SMEC will also project manage the construction, with the $6.5 million contract not set to expire until December 2026.

"We look forward to commencing the process to procure a design and construction contractor later this year, with the intent of undertaking detailed design work next year and commencing construction in mid-2023 ahead of the bridge opening as early as 2025," Mr Steel said.

The bridge would be "future-proofed" for light rail, Mr Steel said.

Design work on the bridge is expected to take 12 months and construction will take two or three years.

The ACT government submitted a development application for the bridge in December, which was approved in February.

The 225-metre bridge is one part of the 1.7 kilometre extension of John Gorton Drive.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: