Major Delays Expected on Commonwealth Avenue and Arterial Roads

Morning Commute Overview

Commuters heading into the City and Parliamentary Triangle this Tuesday, 17 February 2026, should prepare for significant travel time increases. Following the commencement of major construction on the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge Renewal project earlier this year, traffic remains heavily impacted. Current modeling indicates that southbound morning peak travel across the bridge is seeing delays of approximately 13 minutes, while afternoon northbound travel is expected to be delayed by at least 7 minutes. Flow-on congestion is also reported on Kings Avenue, Constitution Avenue, and Parkes Way as motorists seek alternative routes.

Commonwealth Avenue and Bridge Works

The northbound span of the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge remains closed to all traffic, with all vehicles merged onto the southbound span. To assist with public transport efficiency, a dedicated bus and emergency services priority lane is in operation northbound into the city. Motorists are urged to stay alert to changing traffic conditions and permanent bollards separating the lanes. Pedestrians and cyclists can still access the area via the shared path over Parkes Way, though the northbound bus stop at Acton Waterfront remains closed.

Public Transport and Timetable Changes

Transport Canberra is continuing to operate under the revised temporary timetable introduced on 2 February 2026. This network adjustment was implemented to maintain reliability during the bridge renewal works. Key changes for today include:

• Rapid bus services (R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6) are operating at a standard 15-minute frequency throughout the day until 7:30 pm.
• Rapid 2 and Rapid 3 services are no longer operating within Belconnen; they have been replaced by local Route 12 and Route 13 to maintain connectivity to the Belconnen Interchange.
• Rapid 5 and Rapid 6 services have been extended into Belconnen to compensate for reduced frequencies on other lines.
• Higher-capacity articulated buses are being deployed on high-demand corridors to manage passenger volumes.

City and Suburban Roadworks

In the City Center, the London Circuit East and West closures remain in place for Light Rail Stage 2A construction. Significant fencing is installed between Northbourne Avenue and Edinburgh Avenue, and motorists should expect reduced lane capacity on Northbourne Avenue between Alinga Street and Vernon Circle. Outside the city, the following works may impact your drive:

• Barton Highway: Expect night-time lane closures between Bellenden Street and Gundaroo Drive for resurfacing works.
• William Hovell Drive: Early works for the duplication project between John Gorton Drive and Drake Brockman Drive are ongoing. Speed restrictions are in place.
• Resurfacing: Mobile crews are active in Fyshwick, Narrabundah, and Yarralumla for asphalt patching.

Commuters are encouraged to use the journey planner to check for real-time service updates and to allow at least 15 to 20 minutes of extra travel time if crossing Lake Burley Griffin during peak periods.