Majura Parkway open and Malcolm Fraser Bridge officially named

Major construction on the $288 million Majura Parkway has now been completed following today’s official opening of the new road and the naming of its key feature, the Malcolm Fraser Bridge.

Minister for Major Projects, Territories and Local Government Paul Fletcher said the Majura Parkway project is the single largest road infrastructure project in the ACT’s history.

“Major construction is complete on the Majura Parkway which provides 11.5 kilometres of dual carriageway linking the Federal Highway to the Monaro Highway including seven bridges and three underpasses for stock and wildlife,” Mr Fletcher said.

“Jointly funded by the Australian and ACT governments, the Majura Parkway project is a great investment in the ACT’s transport network and the national freight system.”

Senator for the ACT Zed Seselja said the new road will improve freight efficiency, as well as help to relieve congestion around Canberra Airport.

“By 2030 the Majura Parkway is forecast to carry around 40,000 vehicles a day, including up to 6,000 trucks which will be able to take a direct pathway through Canberra,” Senator Seselja said.

“This efficient freight movement is vital to the liveability and prosperity of the ACT and will ensure local businesses can continue to access the goods, services and markets necessary for continued economic growth.”

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr congratulated staff from Fulton Hogan on their work to get the project completed ahead of time.

“This is a significant project for the people of Canberra. Being the largest piece of road infrastructure in the ACT’s history, I am delighted to see the entire Majura Parkway project completed ahead of schedule.

“The project has helped deliver hundreds of jobs to our city and has kept our economy going throughout recent difficult economic times,” Mr Barr said.

Minister for Transport and Municipal Services Meegan Fitzharris said the Majura Parkway project also involved an additional $10 million provided by the ACT Government for the off-road shared user path, and a further $7 million from the Roads to Recovery programme for additional Federal Highway interchange works.

“Active travel along this route has also been improved, with the separately funded off-¬‐road shared path which runs parallel to the Majura Parkway from the Federal Highway to Morshead Drive.

“Now that the Majura Parkway is completed we expect to see a big improvement in north south traffic movement and a reduction in congestion along this route for local and regional traffic,” Ms Fitzharris said.

The legacy of the Right Honourable Malcolm Fraser AC CH was also honoured today with the naming of the project’s most prominent feature, the bridge spanning the Molonglo River and Morshead Drive.

The bridge is a 250 metre long twin bridge which provides connection and linkage across Canberra and between interstate regions.

The bridge was today officially named the Malcolm Fraser Bridge, and to commemorate the naming of the bridge its coloured down lighting will be lit up in green and gold for the next week.