THE ACT Budget is promising to bring light rail to Woden as quickly as possible by progressing the detailed design, planning and enabling works for stage two from Civic to Woden.

The government will start work on a new Woden Bus Interchange that will integrate with light rail to ensure the project keeps moving ahead while it progresses the route design and approvals from the other end.

The government’s new interchange will feature more comfortable shelters, modern passenger information displays and ticketing machines, accessible footpaths and cycle facilities, security systems and safer transiting between the future light rail on Callam Street and the rapid bus network.

We will also build a new park and ride facility on Well Station Drive in Gungahlin.

The Budget also allows for 84 new, fuel-efficient buses to improve accessibility and passenger comfort. The new buses will be added to the fleet on a rolling basis.

On roads, the government will fully duplicate Athllon Drive, William Hovell Drive and the major arterial road between Belconnen and Gungahlin.

A second tranche of work to replace bottleneck intersections along the Monaro Highway will begin, working towards a consistent 100km/h highway. This includes the design and construction of significant intersections improvements along this corridor between Pialligo Avenue in the north and new overtaking lanes at the ACT border in the south.

The Budget invests in two signalised intersections in Belconnen at Southern Cross Drive and Starke Street and Belconnen Way and Springvale Drive.

It will signalise the Kent Street and Novar Street intersections to improve traffic flow for commuters travelling from Weston Creek to the City as well as residents and businesses in Yarralumla and Deakin. As part of these works we will also improve the pedestrian and bike paths through this intersection.

There will be additional safety upgrades at Sulwood Drive to support the new carpark at Mount Taylor, including road widening and a turning bay. And there will be a scoping study on how to make the Hume Circle roundabout at Wentworth Avenue and Canberra Avenue safer.