THE temporary Floriade traffic lights on Commonwealth Avenue stayed in place longer this year and, if you believe the flower show organisers, the Queen’s to blame!

Weeks after Her Majesty left Canberra, the lights remained in place, every day slowing the city’s principal southern entry and exit.

The lights, installed for the safety of pedestrians walking from the Acton car park to Commonwealth Park, were installed on Monday, August 15, four and a half weeks before Floriade opened to the public on Saturday, September 17 and remained in place this year for 13 working weeks.

The lights, temporary speed limits and fences were scheduled to conclude by 5pm, Friday, November 5.

However, it took four weeks after the event, to remove the infrastructure.

And why? ACT Tourism event manager Matthew Elkins said the reason all infrastructure, including fencing, was delayed a week was because of the Queen’s visit to Floriade, four days after it was closed to the public on Sunday, October 16.

The time frame for Floriade bump-ins and outs, were part of ACT Tourism’s risk management plan, and generally ran for three to four weeks.

He said, in this case, the main reason why there was a delay in the bump-out was due to the royal visit. However, in the past, bump-outs have also been delayed for “natural” reasons such as the weather.

The removal of temporary signage along the median strip on Commonwealth Avenue, that welcomed commuters to Floriade, was only removed on Monday October 31 – two weeks after the end of the event.

The Queen again? No. Mr Elkin says this was an oversight and all temporary signage was scheduled to be removed in waves starting from October 15.

The three car parks at Regatta Point, were also scheduled to be reopened to the public on Monday, October 31, however fences surrounding some of the car parks were still in place after the date.

Mr Elkin said he was unaware of the royal visit when the scheduled times were first announced.