Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government has awarded AUD 93 million (US$ 71.69 million) design and planning contract for Canberra Stage 2A of the light rail project to AECOM. 

The ACT Government has also released updated delivery plans for the AUD1.5 billion (US$1.16 billion) project.

The updated delivery schedule will see the first early works commence for light rail before the end of 2021, with planning and works approvals also planned to be lodged around October this year.

Major construction works to raise London Circuit will start in 2022, followed by construction of the first 1.7 kilometres of the light rail line to Commonwealth Park. At the same time, the ACT Government is getting on with delivering the new public transport interchange and light rail station at Woden, with construction works set to commence before the end of 2021.

Planning and design for the rest of the line to Woden will continue while these construction works are underway.

Minister Steel said, “It’s exciting to see our city’s biggest infrastructure project kicking into gear, which we expect will create over 6000 jobs during  design and construction," said Minister Steel. The benefits of this project will be long lasting for Canberra, with the creation of a frequent and reliable transport spine that better connects our major town centres and residential and employment hubs. We are releasing the updated Stage 2A delivery plan now so that Canberrans can understand the different stages required for construction, and the work they can expect to start seeing over the coming year.”