Length:

6 km

Termini:

Northern: William Hovell Dr and Harold White Av, Whitlam

Southern: Cotter Rd, Wright

Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:

Wright, Coombs and Denman Prospect

Current: None

XX

General Information:

Located in the Molonglo Valley district, John Gorton Drive is a four-lane divided arterial road servicing one of the ACT's newest residential areas. The route is named after Sir John Grey Gorton (1911-2002) who served as Prime Minister of Australia from 1968 to March 1971 ¹, and provides access to both commercial and residential developments and passes several parklands and areas of bushland reserve.

At present, the road is split into two sections. Once the bridge over the Molonglo River is completed, the alignment will be continuous and the John Gorton Drive name will extend across the new bridge.

Prior to being named John Gorton Drive, the route was known as Coppins Crossing Road between Denman Prospect and Whitlam. During the early development of Whitlam and Wright, John Gorton Drive was constructed to bypass the remaining section of Coppins Crossing Road.

2017: Work begins on reconstruction of the northern end of Coppins Crossing Road (now named John Gorton Drive) as a dual carriageway and the installation of traffic lights at its existing intersection with William Hovell Drive. ²

12 February 2019: One lane of dual carriageway at Whitlam opened to traffic. ²

19 February 2019: Traffic lights at the intersection of William Hovell Drive and John Gorton Drive began operation. ²

April 2019: Work commenced on duplicating a 500 metre section of Coppins Crossing Road at Whitlam. ³

October 2019: Traffic switched onto newly completed section of Coppins Crossing Road at Whitlam, so that work could be carried out on the future northbound carriageway. ³

January 2024: Construction commences on the 227.5 metre bridge over the Molonglo River between Denman Prospect and Whitlam. The project also includes extension of 1.7 kilometres of dual carriageways both north and south of the river. When the bridge is completed, it will form one of the longest weathering steel bridge in Australia and the tallest road bridge in Canberra. ⁴

This page concentrates on construction photos between Wright and Whitlam

Wright to Whitlam

Bridge Construction:

Wide view of the bridge and dual carriageway construction over the Molonglo River, January 2026. This photo is taken from Pat Lovell Cr, looking south.

Image © Paul Rands

Bridge Construction:

Photo showing Coppins Crossing Rd passing under the new bridge over the Molonglo River, January 2026. This photo is taken from Pat Lovell Cr, looking south.

Image © Paul Rands

Bridge Construction:

Side view of the northbound carriageway of the new bridge over Molonglo River, January 2026. This view is from Thancoupie Cr, Whitlam.

Image © Paul Rands

Whitlam to Coombs

Molonglo River:

Looking north from Coppins Crossing Rd towards the new bridge over Molonglo River, Molonlgo, January 2026. Coppins Crossing, which the new bridges are to replace, is in the foreground.

Image © Paul Rands