At this time of year, Canberra’s city centre is a hive of activity, and Bunda Street is set to get even more buzz with today’s opening of the first stage of the shareway project. ‘The what?’, I hear you ask? Well, if you’ve been into the city centre recently, you’ll have noticed that a good portion of Bunda Street has been closed off to traffic…behind the mesh fences is an exciting new ‘shared space’ for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists to enjoy equally.

From today, this busy part of our city centre will feel less like a conventional road, with new landscaping, lighting, seating, wide kerbs and a slower 20km/h speed completely changing this busy thoroughfare into a shared space that everyone can use safely. It aims to remove the conventional traffic control devices that regulate traffic by separating people from cars and bikes, such as line marking, kerbs and signage. Instead, it fully integrates all road users and pedestrians, resulting in a safe, slow speed and active environment.

The Bunda Street Shareway is an exciting new ‘shared space’ for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists to enjoy equally.

Minister for Territory and Municipal Services Shane Rattenbury said the project will help reduce the level of car reliance towards more use of sustainable and active transport.

“Bunda Street is already a vibrant retail area with a number of great shops and cafes but this project will not only make the area safer and more accessible for people in the area, but also encourage even more activity. It will also demonstrate how the shared space concept can work, possibly lending to further use of shared spaces in other parts of Canberra in the future.

“Encouraging walking and riding is an important part of the ACT Government’s Healthy Weight Action Plan and also our target of having six per cent of journeys to work completed by cycling by 2016, under the Transport for Canberra Plan,” Mr Rattenbury said.

These silhouettes have been erected to help people find out about how Bunda Street shareway will work .

What’s different?

If you pop into Bunda Street from today, here’s what you can expect to see in the shareway:

• a 20 kilometre per hour speed limit with minimal signage or traditional line marking
• raised entry thresholds at each end of the street to signify a changed traffic zone
• additional kerb ramps to improve access for people with mobility impairment, pedestrians and cyclists
• removal of formal pedestrian crossings
• additional street trees, seating, feature lighting and bicycle parking; and
• raised road pavement to the current footpath level at intersections.

The project is the final stage of the Civic Cycle Loop which is a 3.2 kilometre cycle path that connects Marcus Clarke Street, Rudd Street, Allara Street and Bunda Street. The loop also connects to the many paths and roads that lead into the city.

The first stage of the project has focused on the intersections of Bunda Street with Mort Street and Scotts Crossing as well as some work at the intersection of Bunda Street/Akuna Street. Work on Bunda Street will now take a break over the Christmas and New Year period to allow for increased shopping activity, before commencing again in mid-January until the end of March, with work focused on the intersections with Genge Street, Petrie Street and Akuna Street. Work is planned to be finished in April 2015.

Want to know more? Visit www.tams.act.gov.au.