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| M23 B23 | Federal Highway, Majura Parkway and Monaro Highway (M23 / B23) (Construction Photos) |
Statistics:
Route Numbering:
General Information:
M23 / B23 is a major north-south route within the ACT.
The M23 section acts as a bypass of the urban area of North Canberra and travels past Canberra International Airport.
The B23 section acts as a bypass of the urban area of South Canberra and travels past several industrial areas.
The route from Ginns Gap to Gilmore is divided motorway and arterial road standard, with at least 2 lanes in each direction and all junctions between Majura and Symonston grade separated. From Gilmore to Williamsdale, the route in undivided rural highway standard with occasional overtaking lanes.
Traffic types vary considerably along the route. Because of the proximity to the industrial areas of Fyshwick, Hume and to a lesser extent, Symonston, there is quite a lot of heavy vehicles using the route. Other traffic includes commuters travelling to and from Civic and South Canberra to Tuggeranong and during Winter, ski traffic making its way to and from the NSW snowfields, south of Cooma.
B23 crosses the Molonglo River at Pialligo, which feeds Lake Burley Griffin.
History:
Federal Highway:
- September 1928: Sydney-Canberra Road declared as Federal Highway. 1
- 1929: Work started on Federal Highway. 2
- June 1929: Contract awarded to John Fowler (Aust) Ltd, to construct a 6 mile section of highway from Canberra (now Lyneham) to the Federal Capital Territory boundary of earthwork and gravel. 3
- 1930: Completion of ACT section of Federal Highway. 4
- May 1961: Work commenced on straightening Federal Hwy and included an access road to Downer. 5
- September 1961: Northbourne Avenue name extended along Federal Highway to Stirling Avenue at Watson. 6
- February 1962: Construction of a turning circle at the entrance to the Starlight Drive-In Theatre on the Federal Highway completed. 7
- December 1965: Contract awarded to Thompson Constructions to widen and re-align a 1 mile section of Federal Highway near the border. 8
- May 1966: Widening and realingment works commence on Federal Hwy near border. 9
- May 1973: Installation begins of new direction signs, dark green with white reflectorised lettering, on the Federal Highway. 10
- 1974: Upgrade from National Route 23 to National Highway 23 to reflect the route being included in the federally funded National Highway system. 11
- November 1994: Plans to upgrade Federal Highway to dual carriageway from Stirling Avenue to Sutton Road (in NSW) submitted to Federal Minister for Transport for review. 12
- August 1998: Variation of the territory plan to allow construction of the Majura Road / Horse Park Drive interchange near Watson, and the duplication of Federal Highway from Watson to NSW border. 13
- 1999: Work commenced on upgrading the section of highway between the border and Stirling Avenue Watson to dual carriageway.
- December 2002: Completion of the dual carriageways between Stirling Avenue and NSW Border.
- 2016: M23 signposted on Federal Highway between ACT-NSW Border and interchange with Majura Parkway and Horse Park Drive.
Majura Parkway:
- January 2013: Preliminary construction work begins on Majura Parkway. 14
- 5 February 2013: Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese joined ACT Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher to turn the sod on the Majura Parkway project. 15
- 5 January 2015: 5 km section of Majura Pkwy between Tambreet St and Federal Hwy opened to traffic. 16
- 14 May 2015: Majura Parkway’s northbound carriageway opened to traffic by Mick Gentleman and Zed Seselja, north of Fairbairn Avenue. 17
- 21 May 2015: The southbound section of the Majura Parkway opened to traffic between the Federal Highway and Fairbairn Avenue. 18
- 11 November 2015: The northbound Molonglo River bridge structure and Fairbairn Avenue twin bridges opened to traffic. 19
- 17 February 2016: New signals at the Monaro Hwy, Majura Pkwy and Morshead Dr interchange switched on. 20
- 22 April 2016: The ACT and Australian Governments held a special opening ceremony to mark the completion of major construction on the Majura Parkway and officially name the bridge spanning the Molonglo River. The bridge is known as the Malcolm Fraser Bridge.
Monaro Highway (Cooma Road):
- October 1958: Cooma Road renamed Monaro Highway. This meant the route had a single name between Canberra and the Victorian border. 21
- 1964: Channelisation works at the corner of Monaro Hwy and Jerrabomberra Av after representations by a local petition group. 22
- August 1967: The section of the Monaro Highway within in the ACT was the first road in the Territory in which a speed of more than 50 MPH is permitted. The Department of the Interior announced the new limit would be 60 MPH. 23
- February 1972: Speed limit reduced from 40 MPH to 35 MPH approaching the junction with Hindmarsh Drive. 24
- December 1982: Completion of reconstruction of 2.5 km of Monaro Hwy between Johnson Dr and the ACT-NSW Border. The work included a new 2-lane road with overtaking lane and a new bridge across Tuggeranong Creek, which replaced a narrow bridge. 25
- February 1983: Monaro Hwy and Johnson Dr intersection upgrade works underway. 26
- 1985: Reconstruction of Monaro Hwy at Williamsdale. 27
- February 1988: Work started on Eastern Parkway project (Monaro Hwy) with the relocation of Hindmarsh Dr between Jerrabomberra Av and Canberra Av to allow construction of interchange and highway at Canberra Av / Ipswich St junction. 28
- 22 November 1989: Opening of interchange of Canberra Avenue, Ipswich Street and Monaro Highway at Fyshwick. This also included the rerouting of NR23 between Sturt Avenue at the interchange. 29
- 11 November 1992: Monaro Highway name gazetted. 30
- March 2011: Work started on duplicating Monaro Hwy bridge over Canberra Av. 31
- August 2012: Work completed on duplicating Monaro Hwy bridge over Canberra Av. Work included construction of a new southbound carriageway and pavement overlay of the existing Northbound carriageway, construction of two Super T Girder bridges over rail and a cast insitu box girder bridge over Canberra Avenue, installation of bridge safety screens for the bridges over Canberra Avenue, 150 metre reinforced earth retaining wall, the demolition of an existing railway over bridge, modification to an existing reinforced earth retaining wall and relocation of a 1283 millimetre diameter bulk watermain supply across Ipswich Street. The upgrade was the final link in the duplication of the Monaro Highway. 31
This page concentrates on photos of various construction projects along the route.
| Ginns Gap to Williamsdale | Williamsdale to Ginns Gap | |||
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Construction Sign: Sign indicating construction work for the Majura Pkwy and expected traffic delays. Sign was located on Horse Park Dr at Throsby approaching the Federal Hwy and Majura Rd interchange, April 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Advance Directional Sign: AD sign, Majura Parkway construction and contraflow at Fyshwick approaching Pialligo Av, April 2015. This ramp now feeds southbound traffic onto Monaro Hwy. Image © Paul Rands |
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Approaching Hector McIntosh Grove : Majura Pkwy (M23) approaching Hector McIntosh Gr at Majura, January 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Advance Directional Sign: AD sign and Majura Parkway construction at Fyshwick approaching Pialligo Av, April 2015. This ramp now feeds southbound traffic onto Monaro Hwy and northbound traffic from a works depot. Image © Paul Rands |
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Mount Majura Road : Corner of Majura Pkwy (M23) and Majura Rd at Majura, January 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Overpass: Overpass construction at Pialligo to take Majura Pkwy over Hopkins Dr, April 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Carriageway Switch: Portable VMS approaching a carriageway switch at Majura, north of Lime Kiln Rd overpass, January 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Fairbairn Avenue: Majura Pkwy (M23) as it passes over Fairbairn Av at Pialligo, April 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Carriageway Switch: Carriageway switch at Majura, north of Lime Kiln Rd overpass, January 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Majura Parkway Overpass : Construction of the Majura Pkwy over Fairbairn Av, Pialligo, January 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Lime Kiln Road : Majura Parkway passing under Lime Kiln Road at Majura, January 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Approaching Tambreet Street : Traffic from Majura Rd (ALT-NR23) redirected at Tambreet St to Majura Pkwy (M23) at Majura, January 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Approaching Tambreet Street : Majura Pkwy (M23) reduced to one lane to join Majura Rd (ALT-NR23) at the Tambreet St interchange, January 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Tambreet Street Interchange : Reduced speed limit from the on ramp, northbound, from Tambreet St, Majura, January 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Tambreet Street interchange : Majura Parkway at the Tambreet St interchange, Majura, January 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Tambreet Street interchange : Majura Parkway at the Tambreet St interchange, Majura, January 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Tambreet Street interchange : Majura Parkway at the Tambreet St interchange, Majura, January 2015. Traffic turned left here to join Majura Rd to access eastern and southern Canberra. Image © Paul Rands |
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Lime Kiln Road : Majura Parkway passing under Lime Kiln Road at Majura, January 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Tambreet Street Interchange : Image © Paul Rands |
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End Divided Road : End of divided road conditions after Lime Kiln Rd at Majura, so the southbound carriageway construction can be completed, January 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Tambreet Street : Image © Paul Rands |
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End Divided Road : End of divided road conditions after Lime Kiln Rd at Majura, so the southbound carriageway construction can be completed, January 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Mount Majura Road : Corner of Majura Pkwy (M23) and Majura Rd at Majura, January 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Approaching Hector McIntosh Grove : Majura Pkwy (M23) approaching Hector McIntosh Gr at Majura, January 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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1 Canberra Times, Page 1, 28 September 1928
2 Canberra Times, Page 1, 5 April 1929
3 Canberra Times, Page 1, 19 June 1929
4 Canberra Times, Page 4, 13 February 1930
5 Canberra Times, Page 4, 19 May 1961
6 Canberra Times, Page 27, 22 September 1961
7 Canberra Times, Page 6, 16 February 1962
8 Canberra Times, Page 9, 4 December 1965
9 Canberra Times, Page 25, 18 May 1966
10 Canberra Times, Page 11, 2 May 1973
11 Ozroads (Sam Laybutt), National Highway 23 - Federal Highway
12 Canberra Times, Page 3, 3 November 1994
13 ACT Planning & Land Authority, Variation to the Territory Plan, No 67, August 1998
14 Territory and Municipal Services, Media Release MR739/1212, Majura Parkway Preliminary Works Underway, 14 January 2013
15 ACT Government, Media Releases, Construction on the Majura Parkway Begins, 5 February 2013
16 Canberra Times, New Sections of Majura Parkway open to traffic, 5 January 2016
17 City News, Part of the Majura Parkway now open, 14 May 2015
18 City News, Majura Parkway southbound to Fairbairn Avenue opens up, 21 May 2015
19 City News, Majura Parkway crosses the Molonglo, 10 November 2015
20 Territory and Municipal Services, Roads and Transport, Major Construction Projects, City, Inner North and Inner South, Majura Parkway
21 Canberra Times, Page 3, 21 October 1958
22 Canberra Times, Page 12, 21 February 1964
23 Canberra Times, Page 3, 25 August 1967
24 Canberra Times, Page 1, 23 February 1972
25 Canberra Times, Page 3, 23 December 1982
26 Canberra Times, Page 3, 16 February 1983
27 Canberra Times, Page 8, 7 June 1985
28 Canberra Times, Page 9, 6 February 1988
29 Canberra Times, Page 5, 22 November 1989
30 ACT Planning & Land Authority, Place Name Search, Monaro Highway
31 BMD Constructions, Monaro Highway Duplication
Last updated: 31-Jan-2019 15:09
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