Stage 2 of the reconstruction of University Ave, as announced late last year, commenced today. This is a significant part of the University’s ongoing infrastructure upgrades and improvements to the Campus road network.

Stage 2 works will complete the creation of a desirable and attractive environment for students, staff and the community along University Avenue, providing better traffic management into Campus and deterring ‘rat-running’ through our campus roads. The work will include 420m of new road, footpaths and landscaping, which will involve a new crossing of University Creek and creek rehabilitation works.

What’s been happening?
Since the announcement of this project in December, an extensive design and tendering process has been completed and we can now announce that a contract to construct the works has been awarded and a start date has been planned.

What’s next?
Work commenced today (Monday 2 June) with the contractor to erect hoarding around the work area next week. Significant traffic changes will take place once the hoarding is up, leaving only one (1) lane open in a western direction on University Avenue from Eastern Road to the entrance of Gumnut Cottage, Cochlear and the Australian Hearing Hub until the project is completed. It will take around 30 weeks to complete all the work and there will be changes to existing traffic flows throughout this period.

The key elements of traffic management and changes during construction will be:

• University Avenue will remain open for west-bound through traffic only
• All eastbound through traffic will be diverted to Macquarie Drive
• Access to the Australian Hearing Hub, Cochlear and Gumnut Cottage will be maintained on University Ave from both directions; however, east-bound movements from the Australian Hearing Hub/Gumnut/Cochlear entry will be blocked
• Access to C2/C3/E1 car parks will be via Macquarie Drive through the C1A car park.
• Access to Security will only be via Macquarie Drive for a period of time.

Things will change as the project progresses and information will be provided accordingly. The initial changes to traffic flow and road access are below.

There will be many logistical challenges for the Contractor in keeping everyone moving, and as such there will be some unavoidable inconvenience for drivers. However, the Property team and the Contractor will strive to make the construction phase as painless as possible, and will keep everyone informed of progress and changes throughout.

Information on the upgrade works for University Ave may be obtained from Robert Alcock, Senior Project Manager, Infrastructure, Property.