Love it or loathe it, Monaro Street is closing for a $17 million upgrade
Monaro Street is about to undergo its biggest makeover in decades – but first, locals will need to brace for six months without vehicle access through the heart of town.
Construction on the $17.25 million Monaro Street Refresh is expected to begin on Thursday 12 March 2026, with the main street closed from the Atkinson Street roundabout to Lowe Street.
QPRC Mayor Kenrick Winchester said council made the call to fully close the road rather than stage the works lane-by-lane – a move that would have stretched construction out to at least 18 months.
Instead, it’s six months of disruption – and then it’s done.
View looking across the Monaro and Crawford street intersection.
“Council has been working towards improving Monaro Street for a long time,” Councillor Winchester said.
“We have worked with businesses and Transport for New South Wales, and we all agree that closing the road and reducing the amount of construction time is the way to go.”
The key message for residents is simple: the main street will be closed to cars for half a year.
“We know this work will be disruptive and we are aiming to minimise how long people are affected,” Cr Winchester said.
Looking down Monaro Street from the Lowe Street intersection.
Importantly for traders and shoppers, pedestrian access will remain in place throughout the works. So while you won’t be able to drive down the main street, you’ll still be able to walk in and support local businesses.
“Pedestrian access will remain along both sides of the road, including along the Queens Bridge, and businesses will be open and accessible throughout construction,” Cr Winchester said.
What’s changing?
The works go beyond the resurfacing of Monaro Street.
“Works will include replacing the road surface and updating underground infrastructure. The existing travel lanes and parking will remain in the same layout with a fresh new surface, while the medians will be modified, footpaths will be upgraded, and gutter heights will be lowered,” Cr Winchester said.
The median strips will be upgraded as part of the project.
The upgrade extends beyond the initial closure zone, forming part of a broader plan to transform the CBD, driven by the CBD Transformation Strategy, Queanbeyan CBD Spatial Masterplan and Queanbeyan Place Plan. The section from Lowe Street through to Collett Street will also be upgraded.
Support for local businesses
Council has launched business support packages to help local businesses over the course of the works.
This includes façade improvements for a number of local traders.
“This includes our Shop Front Improvement Program that will see façade renovations for 20 businesses along Monaro Street. These upgrades, along with the planned Queanbeyan Leagues Club redevelopment, will form part of a total refresh for our main street,” Cr Winchester said.
Around 20 businesses will upgrade their shopfronts as part of the main street refresh.
“Supporting local jobs and businesses is an important part of this project and we’re glad to be working with a local company from the Canberra region – Dale and Hitchcock Civil Pty Ltd – to get the job done.”
The project is jointly funded by the NSW Government and QPRC. And while the road closure will test patience, the Mayor says the bigger picture is about long-term investment.
“The Monaro Street Upgrade isn’t just about fixing the road, it’s about investing in the future of our community.”
Alternative routes and traffic management details will be available via council’s Monaro Street project page.
About the Author: Briony Winchester
Part bogan, part wannabe plus-size model and part journalist, Bree's the woman behind Q! News. A born storyteller, she's been writing locally, nationally and internationally for more than 30 years.
