Submission to the Raising London Circuit

The proposed raising of London Circuit to a signalised intersection is a regressive step taking that portion of Commonwealth Avenue back to a configuration it was in sometime before 1972. This can be seen on Aerial imagery available on ACTMAPi. The upgrades now proposed to be reversed where made to accommodate the population and traffic growth from 161,000 in 1972 to now 462,000 on the latest figures. The removal of the up and down ramps to enter and exit Commonwealth Avenue will lead to unprecedented traffic congestion backing up affecting other intersections and on the whole will be unworkable. Grade separated intersections are regarded as a safer, more efficient and more desirable option than signalised intersections as is in evidence from the their widespread use around Canberra and their planned inclusion in ongoing road upgrades such as Pialligo Avenue and the Monaro Highway.On the Northern approach to the city another set signalised intersection has been created with the extension on Edinburgh Avenue to Vernon Circle compounding issues associated with this proposal. Accompanied with the proposed enclosure of City Hill with minimum 16 metres high buildings on Vernon Circle facing City Hill the grandeur and sweeping vistas synonymous with the Griffin Plan will be denigrated. As 70% of Canberrans commute via cars an alternative route should be found for the light rail that is more harmonious to all road users rather than one that seeks to supplant them.