Source: Canberra Times
Date: 23 Decemberr 2008

The first section of the newly widened Gungahlin Drive Extension has opened just as traffic eases over the Christmas period.
The $4million dual carriageway from Belconnen Way to the Glenloch interchange is complete, although the overpasses at each end are yet to be doubled, leaving bottlenecks at either end.

But the expanded road will not be put to the test until early next year when people return to Canberra and to work.

Further delays will be experienced in August next year when another 9km of the road is widened, including the construction of eight new bridges.

Gungahlin Community Council president Alan Kerlin said the first widened section was previously the most congested part of the road and the traffic flowed up through the line to Barton Highway.

''I think it's fantastic that the first stage is open because it was the worst part, but it is only one piece in the puzzle,'', he said. ''I think there is a lesson for the ACT Government to listen to the people who use the roads and not take this bluff and bluster approach.''

The Government finished stage one of the Gungahlin Drive Extension project earlier this year without the advice of the community to start the duplication at the same time.

The Government then announced the $83million duplication in July a day before the Opposition was due to announce the same election promise.

''It was the sort of response that did typify the last term of the Government,'' Mr Kerlinsaid.

''It has caused a lot more grief than if it had been done in the first instance.''

He called on the Chief Minister Jon Stanhope to bring forward the rest of the roadworks.

''Get going on second bridge [over Belconnen Way] straight away as this will govern the completion of the rest of it.''