Lengthy traffic delays as Garramilla Blvd opens but traffic still flows
DARWIN city commuters have had to endure lengthy delays on their drives to and from work after the opening of Garramilla Blvd and closure of Tiger Brennan Drive. But traffic still managed to flow
Northern Territory
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DARWIN city commuters had to endure lengthy delays on their drives to and from work after the opening of Garramilla Blvd and closure of Tiger Brennan Dr.
Following months of construction, parts of Garramilla Blvd were open for the first weekday on Monday.
But now that Tiger Brennan Drive is closed from Dinah Beach Rd to McMinn St for the next eight months, the Garramilla Blvd and McMinn St intersection has turned into a bottleneck.
The stretch of Garramilla Blvd from McMinn St up to Cavenagh St will also not be open for eight months.
During peak-hour traffic on Monday morning, there were bumper-to-bumper traffic lines beginning at the intersection that extended as far as the Stuart Hwy and Knuckey St on either side.
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Traffic wardens were also on site with stop-and-go signs to allow merging traffic on McMinn St to turn into Knuckey St, causing further delays.
A spokesman from the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics said travel times were expected to reduce as motorists became more familiar with the changed traffic conditions of Garramilla Blvd.
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“Given the unfamiliar conditions for motorists, it is considered the first peak-hour performance was as expected,” he said.
“The opening of Garramilla Blvd from Dinah Beach Rd to McMinn St signifies the opening of the first stage. A number of DIPL and contractors’ staff will be monitoring traffic at morning and afternoon peaks over the next week to continue to optimise traffic flows
“In addition to Garramilla Blvd, commuters can still access the CBD via the Stuart Hwy, as well as along Frances Bay Dr.
“Commuters are encouraged to avoid using McMinn St to access central parts of the city if entering the CBD from the Stuart Hwy. Alternative cross roads like Cavenagh St or Smith St can be used and will help distribute traffic flows more evenly throughout the city.
EARLIER: Darwin city commuters had to endure lengthy delays on their drive into work Monday morning as Garramilla Blvd opened up to traffic but the city end of Tiger Brennan Drive closed.
Following months of construction, parts of Garramilla Blvd was open for the first weekday but Tiger Brennan Drive from Dinah Beach Rd to McMinn is now closed for eight months.
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The speed limit on Garramilla Blvd is set at 50km/h.
The stretch of Garramilla Blvd from McMinn St up to Cavenagh St will not be open for eight months.
Traffic wardens were also on site with stop and go signs to allow merging traffic on McMinn St to turn into Knuckey St, causing further delays.
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