Current road/cycleway/footpath closures
Where: The shared cycleway and footpath on the western side of Marcus Clarke Street between Barry Drive and Rimmer Street will be closed for the duration of the works. See map for more detail.
When: Saturday 5 September to Saturday 17 October 2026
For more information about road and footpath closures please visit www.cityservices.act.gov.au/roads-and-paths/act_public_road_closures
We are upgrading the electricity network in Civic to support the area’s continued growth and evolving electricity needs.
Delivering more power to Canberra’s city centre
As Canberra’s city centre continues to develop and electrify, demand on the electricity network is increasing. New residential and commercial developments, along with the transition to electricity and growing uptake of electric vehicles, are driving this growth. We’re strengthening the local network to help meet increasing demand and ensure customers continue to have access to a safe and reliable power supply.
What the project will involve
The project involves installing four new underground 11kV high voltage feeder cables. The cables will run from the Civic Zone Substation along Barry Drive to Cooyong Street and London Circuit.
11kV feeders are a key part of the electricity network. They carry power from a zone substation, in this case the Civic Zone Substation, to distribution stations which then transform the electricity to a voltage suitable for use in homes and businesses. A feeder comprises power cables contained within a conduit under the ground. Essentially, 11kV feeders allow us to deliver electricity from the substation to the areas where it’s needed.
Along with the four feeders, we will also install four spare conduits to allow for future electricity network upgrades. As more homes and businesses are built in Civic, these conduits will make it easier to add capacity to the network and meet increased demand for electricity while minimising the need for major construction works and disruption to the community.
By installing the feeders and conduits together we are reducing impacts on the public and improving delivery efficiency.
How the project will be delivered
Evoenergy has partnered with Zinfra to deliver this project safely and efficiently. Our teams will work together to install the new underground feeder cables while limiting disruption to the community. Construction methods will include trenching (open excavation) and directional under boring (drilling under roads or sensitive areas).
Work will be carried out in stages to reduce disruption and minimise the need for road closures where possible.
Project timeline
July 2026
Site established, including preparation of work areas and safety controls
Construction commenced on Barry Drive
August 2026
Underground boring begins near ANU North Oval
Underground boring begins from Civic Zone Substation towards CSIRO
September 2026
Open excavation works within CSIRO block
October 2026
Open excavation works along Barry Drive towards Cooyong Street
February 2027
Open excavation works along Watsons Street
Directional boring under Hobart Place towards London Circuit
March 2027
Open excavation works along Barry Drive eastbound from Watsons Street to Northbourne Avenue
April 2027
Completion of cable installation works
June 2027
Project completed, including all reinstatement works
What to expect during construction
We acknowledge construction activities can be disruptive and may impact residents, businesses, workers and visitors in the city centre.
Depending on the location of works and stage of construction, you may notice the following temporary impacts:
- Road or lane closures
- Changes to traffic conditions
- Changes to cycleway access
- Parking restrictions or reduced parking availability
- Changes to pedestrian access
- Temporary construction fencing and signage
- Stored construction materials and equipment
- Construction noise
- Removal of vegetation
We recognise this upgrade is taking place in a busy area, and we have carefully planned the project to minimise disruption to the community where possible.
To help minimise disruption, we are:
- Developing temporary traffic management plans to minimise impacts on road users and public transport during construction.
- Coordinating works to be carried out in stages to reduce the need for road closures where possible.
- Managing the flow of traffic on Barry Drive by scheduling work between 9.00am and 4.00pm only.
- Undertaking works along Cooyong Street at night to reduce impacts on pedestrians, businesses and traffic.
Further information
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Feeder routes
The routes for the feeders have been selected based on engineering requirements, access, road reserve availability, environmental and heritage considerations, tree impacts and with the aim of reducing disruption where possible.
Ecology, heritage and environmental investigations, including field surveys and walk-throughs along with extensive site investigations were completed as part of design and development to identify site sensitivities and finalise the route.
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Safety
The safety of the community and our crews is our top priority. Prior to construction commencing, safety measures have been carefully implemented, including signage, barriers around work zones and appropriate separation between construction activity and pedestrians, cyclists, students, residents and businesses.
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Noise management
Some noise is expected during construction, particularly where open trenching, excavation or boring equipment is required. We have planned works to minimise noise where possible, use construction methods suited to each location and will provide advance notice to nearby residents, businesses, and other affected stakeholders.
We recognise Marcus Clarke Street, Hobart Place and Cooyong Street are high pedestrian traffic areas. To minimise disruption in these areas, we will be undertaking directional under boring and completing works at night, where possible.
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Road closures
A temporary traffic management plan has been developed for the project. Unfortunately, due to the location of the works, some road closures will be necessary. We acknowledge that road closures, particularly on busy city streets, are inconvenient. We have done our best to minimise disruption to the community, however, we recommend allowing extra travel time or using an alternate route, if possible. You can find out more about current road closures on the City Services website: https://www.cityservices.act.gov.au/roads-and-paths/act_public_road_closures