The on-again, off-again opening of the $20 million Monaro Highway duplication is on again, today, maybe. The function was due to be held last month but was cancelled on the morning.
The office of Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said at the time the cancellation was because wet weather had made the site unsuitable. With clear skies forecast for today, Mr Albanese is due to be joined by the member for Canberra, Gai Brodtmann, and ACT Minister for Community Services, Joy Burch.
ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher had been due to attend last month's scheduled opening. The project, run by Roads ACT, was funded by the federal government. It included duplicating 1.5 kilometres of the Monaro Highway between Newcastle Street and Canberra Avenue and building bridges over Canberra Avenue and the rail line.
In 2010, when inviting tenders for the project, Mr Albanese said the duplicated road would give safer driving conditions and ease traffic congestion through Fyshwick for the 40,000 motorists who used the road daily. This section of the Monaro Highway is the last to be converted from single to dual carriageway in the ACT. Ross Peake
