With Canberrans starting to feel the traffic impacts of road closures due to construction of stage 2a of the tram, Deputy Opposition Leader and Liberal MLA for Murrumbidgee Jeremy Hanson is calling on the Labor-Greens government to publish delay statistics for Woden, Weston Creek and Tuggeranong.

Government projections show these current construction works will:

• reduce Commonwealth Avenue traffic volume by 80 per cent
• increase traffic on Parkes Way by 45 per cent in the morning, and 59 per cent in the evening
• increase traffic on Monaro Highway by 46 per cent in the morning and 38 per cent in the evening
• increase traffic on Kings Avenue by 28 Per cent in the morning and 24 per cent in the evening.

Mr Hanson said it is simply not good enough for the Minister to tell Canberrans to ‘find a different way into the city’ or to travel at different times of the day.

“Currently, under this Labor-Greens government, Canberrans can expect traffic congestion for up to a decade,” Mr Hanson said.

“My office and other Canberra Liberal MLAs are being contacted daily by constituents who are frustrated about the current delays and traffic when coming from the south side of Canberra.

“The Minster has not published any data for the impacts of roads around Woden, Weston Creek, Molonglo and Tuggeranong and it is not good enough.

“Canberrans are frustrated, and the Minister must explain to Canberrans how to ‘find a different way into the city’ when all major roads from the south are affected.

In a motion to be put forward in the Legislative Assembly today, Mr Hanson is also calling on the Labor-Greens government to end the significant traffic congestion as soon as possible by not proceeding with stage 2b of the tram.

“It is important for Canberrans to know, that after a decade of traffic disruption the result will be a tram to Woden, that will take twice as long as the current rapid bus and cost taxpayers over $3 billion,” Mr Hanson concluded.