Temporary Closures: Current advice
Commonwealth Avenue Bridge Renewal Project
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Construction Start Date
November 2025
Completion Date
Major works late 2027
Budget
$137.5M
Temporary Road or Lake Closures
No
Latest news
October 2025
Construction activities are expected to start in November 2025. The first activities on site will be the removal of the two sets of flagpoles along Commonwealth Avenue. This will indicate to the community we are preparing for construction. As the flagpoles are being removed the bridge will remain open however you can expect to see lane closures.
There is a need to close one span of the bridge at a time to enable the upgrades. This includes the traffic lanes and the shared path. The western span of the bridge (northbound lanes) will close first followed by the eastern span (southbound lanes). The first closure is expected from January 2026. Each closure will be in place for approximately 12 months. One span of the bridge will remain open at all times.
We have been working closely with the ACT Government in finalising traffic arrangements for the construction period. During construction there will be two northbound lanes and one southbound lane available on the open bridge span. There will be one lane of general vehicle traffic in both directions. The second northbound lane will be a bus and emergency services priority lane.
On this page
Project Overview
The National Capital Authority is undertaking major renewal works of Commonwealth Avenue Bridge. The project involves bridge strengthening and widening of the shared paths to cater to Canberra’s long-term transport needs while maintaining the bridge’s heritage value.
Please note these works are not connected with any light rail projects.
About Commonwealth Avenue Bridge
The Commonwealth Avenue Bridge we know today was constructed and opened to traffic in late 1963. Part of the dual carriageway Commonwealth Avenue, the bridge consists of two separate and parallel structures of around 310 metres long. It is a critical and strategically important arterial corridor in Canberra’s metropolitan transport network catering to public transport, active travel and vehicular traffic.
Learn more about the history of Commonwealth Avenue Bridge on the Attractions page.
About the project
Due to its remarkable engineering design, the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge has not undergone any significant upgrades for sixty years. However, the time for these upgrades has come. Once work is completed the bridge will be strengthened to respond to the growing population, increased traffic and new vehicles as well as to provide better access for pedestrians and cyclists across, to and from the bridge.
Project benefits
- Safeguarding for the future: this project will strengthen the bridge, ensuring it adequately caters for Canberra’s long term transport needs, responding to a growing population, increased traffic and new vehicles. It will also address safety issues by replacing safety barriers and handrails and installing new lighting on the bridge.
- Wider shared paths and improved connectivity: widening of the shared paths will deliver improved access and connectivity for all users. Improvements to the shared path approach ramps to provide better access to the bridge for all users and to better integrate with the wider shared path network.
- Maintaining the National Capital Plan: Commonwealth Avenue Bridge has considerable cultural and heritage value as a key landmark in Canberra. A key project objective is to ensure the bridge is planned and developed in accordance with its local and national significance. As part of the project, landscaping works will improve the urban design and access to the Lake’s foreshore.
Project key features
- Bridge strengthening including replacement of the existing bearings and reinforcement with high-strength concrete and cabling.
- Widening of the shared paths along the bridge from the existing 2.4 metres to 5 metres. Improved shared path access with new connecting paths and replacement of the existing stairs.
- New viewing platforms located at each of the four pylons (ends of the bridge).
- New lighting across the length of the bridge including within the shared path handrails.
- Landscaping to complement Canberra’s landscape including new trees, grasses and groundcovers, shrubs and feature plantings.
Project timeline
2021
- Project first announced
2022
- SMEC announced as design consultant and concept design phase commences
2023
- Funding allocated for detailed design and construction
- Community engagement on the concept design
- Parliamentary Committee on Public Works Inquiry
2023/2024
- Procurement via open tender for detailed design and construction
2025
- Seymour Whyte Constructions announced as Head Contractor
- Detailed design phase including NCA Works Approval process
- Preliminary construction works begin
2026
- Stage 1: closure of the western bridge span (northbound lanes)
2027
- Stage 2: closure of the eastern bridge span (southbound lanes)
- Completion of major construction works
Early 2028
- Minor works including landscaping complete
- Project completion
Project status
Seymour Whyte was awarded the detailed design and construct contract in March 2025. As part of the detailed design phase, investigations including survey and geotechnical works were carried out between April and September 2025.
A site compound has been set up in the Barrine Drive short stay carpark. The carpark is being permanently removed as part of these works. A second site compound will be established south of Commonwealth Avenue Bridge within the Flynn Drive cloverleaf for the construction period. Work on this will begin in late October 2025.
Construction will be completed in two main stages with each stage anticipated to take around 12 months.
- Stage 1: western span of the bridge (northbound lanes)
- Stage 2: eastern span of the bridge (southbound lanes).
Due to the nature of the works being undertaken to strengthen the bridge, it is necessary to close the bridge spans one at a time to enable the upgrades. This includes the traffic lanes and the shared path. One side of the bridge will remain open to accommodate traffic and shared path users.
Construction
Construction is expected to begin in November 2025. The first activities include removal of the two sets of flagpoles along Commonwealth Avenue and construction of temporary crossover lanes which will allow traffic to move onto the open bridge span during the closures.
During these initial works there will be lane closures. Access across both sides of the bridge will be maintained during these preliminary works however there will be lane closures in place. Sections of Commonwealth Avenue and the whole of Commonwealth Avenue Bridge will be reduced to two lanes in both directions for the duration of the preliminary works, with additional lane closures in off-peak hours as required. Lane closures are expected to begin in mid-November 2025 (weather permitting).
Completion of the crossover lanes allows for the closure of the western span of the bridge (northbound lanes). The first closure is programmed for early January 2026 (weather permitting). We will communicate publicly the confirmed closure date ahead of time.
Traffic management during construction
There will be significant changes and traffic impacts, including for shared path users.
Each span of Commonwealth Avenue Bridge will be closed for up to 12 months each (weather permitting). This includes the traffic lanes and the shared path. One side of the bridge will remain open.
We have been working closely with the ACT Government on traffic arrangements for the construction period. During construction there will be two northbound lanes and one southbound lane available on the open bridge span. There will be one lane of general vehicle traffic in both directions. The second northbound lane will be a bus and emergency services priority lane.
Traffic management plans are being finalised to support the bridge closures however Canberrans and visitors to the National Capital can expect the following changes from early January 2026:
- full closure of the western side/northbound lanes across Commonwealth Avenue Bridge
- three lanes available on the eastern side of the bridge; two northbound lanes with one for general traffic and one bus and emergency services priority lane and one southbound lane for general traffic
- general traffic travelling northbound (towards the city) will merge into one lane near Albert Hall and move onto the eastern side of the bridge via the newly constructed crossover lane
- general traffic travelling southbound (toward Parliament House) will merge into one lane after Albert Street and continue travelling southbound
- full closure of the shared path on the western side of Commonwealth Avenue Bridge with shared path users detoured onto the eastern side.
The road network will be monitored and we will work closely with the ACT Government to regularly communicate about impacts and alternate routes. We recognise this is going to be disruptive for the community and visitors to the National Capital and are committed to completing works as efficiently and safely as possible.
Information about public transport arrangements during the construction period will be published at www.transport.act.gov.au when available.
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If you would like to contact the project team, email us at communications@nca.gov.au
Publications and previous announcements
21 October 2025: Essential upgrade works for Commonwealth Avenue Bridge to begin soon
26 August 2025: Commonwealth Avenue Bridge Renewal Update
7 March 2025: Commonwealth Avenue Bridge Renewal Project Update
6 October 2022: NCA to undertake major asset renewal for Commonwealth Avenue Bridge
Due to its remarkable engineering design, Commonwealth Avenue Bridge has not undergone any significant upgrades for sixty years. In this time we have seen the size and weight of everyday vehicles increase. It is important to ensure the bridge is upgraded to accommodate these increasing vehicle sizes today and into the future.
Whilst these strengthening works will increase the bridge’s load rating to accommodate heavier vehicles up to 44 tonnes, vehicle limits across the bridge will remain consistent with the authorised heavy vehicle routes determined by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.
In addition to the traffic lanes, Commonwealth Avenue Bridge is the primary north-south link for pedestrians and active travel users. At only 2.4 metres wide, the existing shared paths on both sides of the bridge do not meet Austroad Guidelines or industry standards. The project will double the width of the path system, significantly improving safety for both pedestrians and cyclists.
On 8 April 2022, the Minister for the Environment included Lake Burley Griffin and Adjacent Lands in the Commonwealth Heritage List. Commonwealth Avenue Bridge is not itself heritage listed, but it is included within the boundary of the Lake Burley Griffin listed area and contributes to its heritage values.
A heritage impact assessment has been prepared as part of the design for the works.
The report identified the proposed works would have a moderate impact on several heritage values because of the bridge widening which would remove parts of the original structure and handrails, impacting several creative qualities. However, the design of the extensions to the bridge has sought to minimise the impact through the simple, modern form and materials selected.
There was also a minor impact noted because of the bridge’s changed appearance, including to the landscaping. These impacts would be greater at close range, but less perceptible from further away. New plantings are expected to mitigate this landscape impact over time.
Otherwise, no additional heritage values were noted.
The project will have regard for preserving the historical significance of the bridge.
The upgraded bridge will generally retain its current visual appearance. New materials being used to upgrade the bridge will not be visible due to their location within the bridge and those used for the widening of the bridge will complement the existing look of the bridge.
Both sets of flag poles will need to be removed to allow construction activities associated with the project to take place. There are no current plans to reinstate the flag poles following construction. The flag poles along Kings Avenue will remain.
The project includes increasing the width of the shared pathways on either side of the bridges to roughly 5m wide. In addition, pedestrian paths on the northern and southern abutments of the bridge will be realigned to allow safer movement of pedestrians and cyclist when exiting the bridge.
There will be significant closures and traffic impacts during construction and Canberrans are urged to plan ahead and, if possible, consider changes to how you travel.
To ensure one side of the bridge remains open, works will be undertaken on the western span of the bridge first, before progressing to the eastern span.
We have been working closely with the ACT Government in finalising traffic arrangements for the construction period. During construction there will be two northbound lanes and one southbound lane available on the open bridge span. There will be one lane of general vehicle traffic in both directions. The second northbound lane will be a bus and emergency services priority lane.
The road network will be monitored and we will work closely with the ACT Government to communicate about impacts and alternate routes. We recognise this is going to be disruptive for the community and visitors to the National Capital and are committed to completing works as efficiently and safely as possible.
The NCA has and will continue to work closely with the ACT Government to minimise impacts for all road users as much as possible during the construction period. A dedicated northbound bus priority lane will be provided. For further information about public transport arrangements during the construction period, visit www.transport.act.gov.au.
Due to the nature of the works being undertaken to strengthen the bridge, it is necessary to close the bridge spans. These works include replacement of the bridge bearings which sit between the bridge deck and the bridge piers. The bridge will be lifted off the existing piers to complete this work and it is critical there is no additional load on the bridge during this time.
Furthermore, as part of the works holes will be cut in the closed bridge span to allow access for pouring the reinforced concrete slabs inside the bridge. Both these activities necessitate the closure of the affected bridge span to ensure the safety of both the workers and the public.
The Commonwealth Avenue Bridge Renewal Project is unrelated to the ACT Government's plan to extend the Light Rail from Civic to Woden.
To learn more about the light rail project, please visit the ACT Government's website.
The NCA is working closely with the ACT Government to coordinate construction programs, disruption and communication activities wherever possible.
The area of Commonwealth Avenue Bridge is a constrained environment. To complete these necessary upgrades, our project team needs to work above, below and between the two bridge spans. To construct these works at the same time as the proposed works being delivered with Light Rail Stage 2B would further constrain the environment, making it unsafe for two project teams and all the necessary machinery and activities to co-exist.
The NCA will continue to work with stakeholders, including the ACT Government, to manage the impact of this project and its interrelationship with other works in and around the vicinity.
The NCA will continue to keep community members and other stakeholders updated on project status and arrangements for traffic management once construction works commence.
You can stay informed by subscribing to our mailing list using the link above, or by following the project updates on our website or social media. If you have any questions about the project you can email us at communications@nca.gov.au