Canberra road renamed after assault claims

Canberra's William Slim Drive is set to be renamed after its namesake was accused of sexual abuse.

Sir William was Australia's 13th governor-general and was named as an abuser in the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Allegations were also brought forward to the ACT government.

The territory's Environment and Heritage Minister Mick Gentleman on Thursday said the road would be renamed when it is duplicated, with planning already underway.

"Child sexual abuse is abhorrent and we need to ensure our public place naming does not cause ongoing hurt to Canberrans," he said.

Canberra's Haig Park, which is named after a WWI commander whose battlefied decisions have drawn criticism, will not be renamed.

However, new signage will be installed telling the contested history of Field Marshal Haig's wartime legacy.