Commonwealth Avenue Bridge span closure from Wednesday 7 January 2026

The National Capital Authority is undertaking major renewal works on Commonwealth Avenue Bridge with the main bridge construction phase to get underway in early January 2026. To support these works, the northbound bridge span will close to all traffic from Wednesday 7 January 2026 (weather permitting). 

Upgrades to Commonwealth Avenue Bridge involve essential bridge strengthening and widening of the shared paths to cater to Canberra’s growing population and increasing traffic volumes. These are the most significant upgrades to the bridge since it opened to traffic in 1963.

From Wednesday 7 January 2026, Canberrans and visitors to the National Capital can expect the following changes:

• full closure of the northbound span - lanes and shared path – of Commonwealth Avenue Bridge
• the open southbound span of the bridge will have; two northbound lanes with one for general traffic and one bus and emergency services priority lane and one southbound lane for general traffic
• closure of the Flynn Drive on-ramp to Commonwealth Avenue northbound for general traffic; road users will be detoured via Coronation Drive
• general traffic travelling northbound (towards the city) will merge into one lane near Albert Hall and move onto the southbound span of the bridge via the newly constructed crossover lanes
• general traffic travelling southbound (toward Parliament House) will merge into one lane after Albert Street and continue on the southbound span of the bridge
• full closure of the shared path on the northbound span of Commonwealth Avenue Bridge with shared path users detoured onto the southbound span.

A map detailing the changed traffic arrangements is available on the NCA website. There will also be changes for public transport users. More information will be published by Transport Canberra on their website at www.transport.act.gov.au when available.

Preliminary works including the removal of the two sets of flagpoles along Commonwealth Avenue and construction of temporary crossover lanes in the medians at either end of the bridge began recently and are currently on track for completion before the end of the year. 

We acknowledge the closure of Commonwealth Avenue Bridge, alongside other projects in construction simultaneously across the ACT, create significant disruption to the road and shared path network for Canberrans and visitors to the National Capital. The NCA will continue working closely with the ACT Government in monitoring impacts and coordinating messaging to the community. We encourage everyone to consider what choices you can make to improve your commute. 

We are committed to providing updates to the community throughout the construction period as soon as information is available. The community can sign up to receive updates straight to their inbox on our website or follow us on social media.

For more information about the project and changed traffic arrangements, visit www.nca.gov.au/commbridge