Construction of the light rail track will start later this month to connect the existing light rail network to Light Rail Stage 2A: City to Commonwealth Park.

The ACT government says works include preparation for the new track installation, a critical step before track slab and track form works start early next year.

During November and December services will be installed to support light rail signalisation and enable light rail to transition to the wire-free zone for Stage 2A.

Parkes Way rail bridge

The ACT government says that on the first weekend of December, steel girders will be installed for Canberra’s first light rail bridge, connecting Civic, Commonwealth Park and the Acton Waterfront.

Each steel girder is the full length of the bridge (53 metres) and weighs up to 55 tonnes. These will be put in place by a 750-tonne mobile crane. This type of crane is used in wind farm construction and takes 15 semi-trailers worth of equipment to assemble.

These works will require some weekend road closures and disruption to bus and light rail services.

Upcoming works and closures

• From 8pm Friday 14 November to 6am Tuesday 18 November:
  • Northbourne Avenue northbound closed between Vernon Circle and Rudd Street.
• From 8pm Friday 21 November to 6am Monday 24 November:
  • The intersection of Alinga Street and Northbourne Avenue will be closed.
  • Northbourne Avenue northbound will be reduced to one lane between Vernon Circle and Rudd Street.
  • Northbourne Avenue southbound will be closed between Cooyong Street and Vernon Circle, with detours in place.
  • Light rail services will be impacted from the first service on Saturday 22 November to the last service on Sunday 23 November. During this time, buses will replace light rail services between Alinga Street and Sandford Street in Mitchell and will continue to Well Station Drive.
  • There will be some bus diversions for buses going in and out of the City bus interchange. Minor delays are expected. City bus interchange platforms 1 and 3 will be closed and alternative arrangements will be in place.
• From 8pm Friday 28 November to 6am Tuesday 2 December:
  • The intersection of Alinga Street and Northbourne Avenue will be closed
  • Northbourne Avenue will be reduced to one lane between Vernon Circle and Rudd Street/Bunda Street in both directions.
  • Light rail will operate as normal and there will be no rail replacement bus during this period.
  • There will be some bus diversions for buses going in and out of the City bus interchange. Minor delays are expected.
• From mid November, a short section of Commonwealth Avenue southbound near Parkes Way will be reduced to one lane until early 2026 to prepare for essential Parkes Way Bridge works.
• From 8pm Friday 5 December to 6am Monday 8 December:
  • The intersection of Alinga Street and Northbourne Avenue will be closed.
  • Northbourne Avenue will be reduced to one lane between Vernon Circle and Rudd Street/Bunda Street in both directions.
  • Light rail will be impacted from the first service on Saturday 6 December 2025 to the last service on Sunday 7 December 2025. During this time, buses will replace light rail services between Alinga Street and Sandford Street in Mitchell and will continue to Well Station Drive.
  • There will be some bus diversions for buses going in and out of the Civic bus interchange. Minor delays are expected.
  • Parkes Way will be closed in both directions between the Parkes Way on/off ramps and Vernon Circle.
  • Commonwealth Avenue will be closed in both directions between Parkes Way and Vernon Circle.
  • London Circuit East will be closed between Constitution Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue, with bus diversions in place.