Short detour, long campaign: what the C4 works in Woden reveal
People riding through Woden are encountering a temporary change on one of Canberra’s most important cycling routes.
A short section of the C4 shared path behind Woden Police Station closed on Monday 7 September for repair work. The closure is expected to last for up to two weeks, weather permitting, with a signed detour using the Callam Street path network.
For many riders, it will be a minor inconvenience. But it also highlights a much bigger question: is the C4 becoming a continuous, safe and intuitive route or are people still being asked to navigate a collection of temporary arrangements and unresolved crossings?
The C4 is a principal route connecting Woden, Tuggeranong and central Canberra. People use it to reach workplaces, schools, shops, public transport and community facilities. A problem on this route affects far more than recreational weekend riding.
That is why Pedal Power continues to follow developments around Wilbow Street closely.
A safer crossing at Wilbow Street has been sought for years. The ACT Government has advised that temporary measures will include a slight “dogleg” in the path, intended to slow approach speeds, along with vegetation trimming to improve visibility between people riding, walking and driving. A raised or “wombat” crossing is also proposed to calm traffic.
These measures respond to genuine safety concerns, but temporary changes should not become a substitute for the permanent solution.
Pedal Power is seeking confirmation that the raised-priority treatment will be delivered and that nearby development will provide the path connections needed to make the route coherent. A crossing should be readily understood by everyone approaching it. People should not need local knowledge to work out who has priority or where the route continues.
Further south, there has been welcome progress on the same C4 corridor. The Athllon Drive duplication project now includes a free-flowing C4 underpass beneath Sulwood Drive, improvements to connecting paths and upgrades to the existing path. Enabling works have already widened parts of the C4 and added lighting. Main construction is expected to begin in 2027, subject to procurement and approvals.
Our advocates have repeatedly asked a practical question about projects like this: not simply whether an improvement appears in a design, but when it will be funded and delivered.
That distinction matters. Canberra already has many promising plans. What people riding need is a connected network on the ground.
Pedal Power will continue monitoring the Woden detour, following up the Wilbow Street crossing and pressing for C4 improvements that work for people of all ages and abilities.
Members can strengthen this advocacy by telling us what they experience: unclear signs, difficult crossings, poor sightlines, surface problems or missing connections. Everyday observations help us build the case for lasting improvements.
