Road Photos & Information: Australian Capital Territory

Entering the ACT near Watson. Image © Paul Rands

You've arrived at the road photos and information section that covers the Australian Capital Territory.

One of only 2 territories in Australia, the ACT was established as the FCT (Federal Capital Territory) in 1911. In 1912, Chicago based architect and planner, Walter Burley Griffin and his wife Marion won the design competition to plan the city. His design was used in part, along with adaptations by local authorities, then later additional planning was performed by the NCDC (National Capital Development Committee) from 1958-1989. The NCDC was abolished with the introduction of self-government to the Australian Capital Territory in 1989 and the establishment of the National Capital Planning Authority (now the National Capital Authority).*

The ACT covers an area of 2 358 square kilometres on the eastern part of Australia within the boundaries of NSW and has 178 intersections controlled by traffic lights. Additionally, there are 23 signalised pedestrian crossings. There are over 1000 bridges in the ACT, ranging from pedestrian foot bridges to multi-lane long span bridges and there are currently over 67 000 streetlights along the streets, community paths, and in public places in the ACT.**

Below are the various roads that this site has photos of. The numbered routes are sorted by their route number and unnumbered routes alphabetically. To view each gallery, click on the thumbnail or route number. The ACT does not have a state route system as such, but they do have a set of tourist drives which cover Canberra's suburbs and the western areas of the territory.

For photos of general Canberra construction around Civic and the Parlimentary triangle, including many roads and Lake Burley Griffin, click here.

Numbered Routes:

Route Number:	Description:	Preview:
	Tourist Drive 1 - Parliamentary Triangle Loop: Commonwealth Avenue, London Circuit, Constitution Avenue, Russell Drive, Kings Avenue, State Circle.
	Tourist Drive 3 - ANZAC Memorial Loop: Anzac Parade, Constitution Avenue, Russell Drive, Morshead Drive, Fairbairn Avenue, Treloar Crescent, and Limestone Avenue.
	Tourist Drive 4 - Northern Sports and Recreation Tour: Northbourne Avenue, Vernon Circle, Mouat Street, Ginninderra Drive, Tucker Street, Leverrier Crescent, Battye Street, Haydon Drive, College Street, Eastern Valley Way, Emu Bank, Luxton Street, Coulter Drive, William Slim Drive, Owen Dixon Drive, Kuringa Drive and Barton Highway.
	Tourist Drive 5 - Science and Nature Loop: State Circle, Adelaide Avenue, Cotter Road, Paddys River Road, Tindbinbilla Road, Tharwa Drive, Monaro Highway and Canberra Avenue.
	Tourist Drive 6 - Embassies Tour: Brisbane Avenue, National Circuit, Dominion Circuit, Melbourne Avenue, Hopetoun Circuit, Schlich Street, Empire Circuit, Akarna Street, Moonah Place, Perth Avenue, Darwin Avenue, Forster Crescent, Coronation Drive, State Circle and Commonwealth Avenue.
	National Highway 23: Federal Highway.
	National Route 23: Northbourne Avenue, Commonwealth Avenue, State Circle, Canberra Avenue, and Monaro Highway.
	Alternate National Route 23: Majura Road. Dairy Flat Road & Monaro Highway.
	National Highway 25: Barton Highway.
	National Route 52: Canberra Avenue.

Unnumbered Major Thoroughfares:

Description:	Preview:
Drakeford Drive: Kambah to Calwell
Hindmarsh Drive: Duffy to Fyshwick
Parkes Way: Acton to Russell
Tuggeranong Parkway: Black Mountain to Kambah

* Information courtesy of the ACT Government and National Capital Authority
** Information courtesy of Geoscience Australia and Roads ACT