Major Road Closures on Monaro Highway and Commonwealth Avenue this Sunday, March 1

Major Delays and Closures Across Canberra This Sunday

Commuters and weekend travelers in Canberra should prepare for significant disruptions this Sunday, 1 March 2026. Major infrastructure projects and the ongoing Enlighten Festival will cause several key closures on primary arteries, particularly around the Monaro Highway and the city center. Authorities are urging motorists to plan their journeys in advance and allow for extra travel time.

Monaro Highway Upgrade: Lanyon Drive Closure

A major closure is in effect at the Monaro Highway and Lanyon Drive intersection as part of the Phase Two upgrades. From now until 5:00 AM on Monday, 2 March, Lanyon Drive is completely closed between the northbound and southbound carriageways of the Monaro Highway. This closure is essential for crews to install barriers on the new flyover structure and remove temporary scaffolding and walkways.

• Detours: Motorists traveling from Jerrabomberra and Queanbeyan are advised to detour through the Hume industrial area via Sheppard Street.
• Alternative Route: Road users traveling from Jerrabomberra to North Canberra should consider turning right onto Lanyon Drive at Tompsitt Drive and utilizing Canberra Avenue to bypass the work site.

Commonwealth Avenue and City Disruptions

Light Rail Stage 2A construction and the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge renewal project are currently in a high-intensity work phase. Commonwealth Avenue is closed northbound between the Parkes Way on/off ramps and Vernon Circle until early Monday morning. Southbound travel remains open but is restricted to a single lane between the Parkes Way off-ramp and Albert Street.

• Parkes Way: Westbound lanes are closed between the Commonwealth Avenue ramps, with heavy detours in place.
• London Circuit: London Circuit East remains closed in both directions between Commonwealth Avenue and Constitution Avenue.
• Enlighten Festival: Nightly road closures are in place from 4:00 PM until midnight within the National Triangle. Impacted roads include King George Terrace, King Edward Terrace, and Queen Elizabeth Terrace between Parkes Place East and West.

Public Transport and Special Services

Transport Canberra has implemented several diversions to accommodate the bridge and light rail works. Northbound bus services for routes R2, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R10 are being diverted via Edinburgh Avenue and Vernon Circle. While no bus stops are expected to be missed, the detours may cause slight delays to Sunday schedules.

To assist those attending the Enlighten Festival, a free shuttle bus is operating every 15 minutes from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM. The shuttle runs on a continuous loop between the City Interchange (Platform 9), London Circuit, and the Festival Hub. Using public transport is strongly encouraged to avoid construction zones and extremely limited parking in the Parliamentary Triangle.

Drivers are reminded to follow all temporary speed limits and signage. For those who must drive, checking live traffic conditions before departing is recommended to navigate around the various work zones safely.