Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Shane Rattenbury, recently announced works have been completed ahead of schedule to upgrade a new path within Bowen Park along the Kingston and Barton Foreshore.
“The $600,000 upgrades along a 510 meter section of path from Bowen Place car park to Eastlake Parade were completed this week following final landscaping works,” Mr. Rattenbury said “Previously a red gravel narrow path weaved around the East Basin of the Lake Burley Griffin foreshore. Now, the new shared concrete path will enable cyclists and pedestrians to safely move around this area of the Kingston and Barton precinct, improving the connection between the Parliamentary Triangle and the Kingston area. New signage, as well as lighting, was installed to improve safety along the path so it can be used at night.”
Of the upgrades Rattenbury explained they will benefit Canberrans now and into the future. During construction works of the wider path, 14 trees were removed to accommodate for the wider path with other trees pruned. To replace the removed trees, 12 new trees were planted around the park with another three to be planted in December 2015. The existing footbridge and jetty on the foreshore was not removed and was incorporated as part of the new path. The main path is 355 metres long and 3.5 metres wide adjacent to the lake. Two other adjoining sections measuring 155 metres and two metres wide take users from the Bowen Park car park to the lake and from Eastlake Parade to the lake. In addition to the new path works along the water’s edge, new on road cycle lanes are planned to be installed along a section of Eastlake Parade and Eyre Street within the Kingston Foreshore development.
These additional works are planned for completion before January 2016.