Submission to the Raising London Circuit

PROPOSED RAISING OF LONDON CIRCUIT

This proposal from the ACT Government asks the NCA to approve the demolition of an existing free-flowing grade separated intersection and its replacement with a four-way level intersection controlled by traffic lights. This is retrograde step and should be not approved.

A four-way level intersection controlled by traffic lights is not an improvement in terms of (1) traffic engineering, (2) aesthetics, (3) travel times (4) reduced urban pollution (cars unnecessarily idling at red lights) and (5) protection of heritage values.

The result would be a low quality outcome on one of the major axis of the National Capital.

This unfortunate proposal is to facilitate the misguided selection of a future transport system which cannot climb uphill.

There are alternative transport solutions which achieve superior outcomes without the need to destroy the present grade separated intersection.

In rejecting the proposal the NCA should instruct the ACT Government to investigate the comparative merits of using electric buses or trackless trams for the future Stage 2 route. It would be negligent to approve the current proposal without assessing alternative technologies which allow the use of existing roadways (suitably reinforced if necessary) without the need for vast engineering works.

Better public transport models exist. Brisbane for example is showing the way. Their new electric buses, “more like a train carriage than an articulated bus” (Engineers Australia magazine, September 2021, p17) can run all day using a “flash-charging system” whilst en route. And Melbourne, world famous for its tram network, is embracing 21st century technology and looking at trackless trams for future public transport routes. The light rail vehicle’s inability to climb uphill, due to the low traction of its smooth steel wheels on a smooth steel track, is a major weakness of the ACT Government’s chosen Metro system.

Regarding the protection of heritage values, the grade separation of London Circuit and Commonwealth Avenue is an admirable and historic part of Canberra’s formative years of urban infrastructure and should not be destroyed. Its imagery is iconic (Allen Koppe: On route photo provided):
Note: Your system does not allow the inclusion of images. The Allen Koppe image will be emailed separately.

With the rejection of the application for “Raising of London Circuit” this ancillary proposed work becomes unnecessary.
It should also be rejected.

With the rejection of the applications for “Raising of London Circuit” and “Temporary works on Vernon Circle” this proposed further ancillary work becomes unnecessary. It should also be rejected.

Note: Your “Parkes Way and Corranderk (sic) St intersection Upgrade. Statement of Heritage Impact” misspells Coranderrk 63 times and only spells the street name correctly twice. This lack of attention to detail, especially in a heritage impact statement, is insulting and inexcusable. The NCA should have demanded this error be corrected before releasing the document to the public.