SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO BELCONNEN TOWN CENTRE

Over the next two years, a $124 million facelift will be made to the Belconnen Town Centre giving people better access to the shopping mall, simpler bus routes and easier pedestrian access to the town centre.

Over the next 18 months, significant construction in Belconnen Town Centre will create:

• New shops and car parking fronting Lathlain Street. Westfield Belconnen's extension also includes a new bus station that connects directly to the cinema and other entertainment, shops and services in level three of the Mall.
• Temporary bus stations will be located on Cohen Street, Lathlain Street and Cameron Avenue. These bus stations will provide connections to all bus routes passing through the Belconnen Town Centre.
• An extension of Cohen Street from its intersection with Lathlain Street through to Benjamin Way.

The project will improve access through the Town Centre for cars, cyclists, pedestrians and bus passengers, but this won’t happen immediately. During the main construction period between June 2009 and October 2010 the community will be asked to adapt to some significant changes that include:

Temporary bus stops
From the end of May 2009 buses will no longer run through the Belconnen interchange. Instead all buses will stop at temporary bus stations on Cameron Avenue adjacent to the Australian Taxation Office and on Lathlain Street adjacent to Magnet Mart. All buses will also run through to the new "western terminus" that is being built next to the ACTION bus depot in Cohen Street.

Traffic signals
To improve the flow of cars and buses and to help with pedestrian safety, new traffic signals are being installed at the intersections of:

• Emu Bank and Benjamin Way
• Emu Bank and Eastern Valley Way
• Nettlefold Street with Cohen Street
• Cohen Street with Josephson Street
• Cohen Street with Lathlain Street.

Joynton Smith Drive
From approximately June 2009, Joynton Smith Drive will continue to provide access to car parks from both Emu Bank and Benjamin Way. However the section of road adjacent to the Mall's western car park will be closed to through traffic. This is required to allow Westfield's extension to Lathlain Street to be constructed.

"Red pedestrian bridge"
During most of the construction period the "red bridge" will continue to provide pedestrian access to level three of the Mall. However, for a period of about four weeks in July /August 2009 the bridge will be closed to the public while it is relocated. Alternative pedestrian access will be available during this time.

Churches Centre pedestrian bridge
In about July 2009, the pedestrian bridge between the Churches Centre and Westfield's car park will be demolished and replaced. There will be a period of two or three months when the Churches Centre level one link is out of commission. Alternative pedestrian access will also be available during this time.

Car parking
Westfield Belconnen's extension will increase the number of available parking spaces; however there will be some disruption to parking during the construction period.

[This information has been provided to the Belconnen Community Council by Roads ACT. If you have any queries or comments please forward them to belcouncil@yahoo.com.au .]