Under our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future, a re-elected majority Liberal Government will invest:
- $20 million for the Lyell Highway between Granton and New Norfolk.
- $20 million towards the extension of the Southern Outlet Transit Lane from Tolmans Hill to Kingston.
- $20 million for the East Derwent Highway between Bridgewater and the Bowen Bridge.
- $20 million towards the Mornington Roundabout interchange project.
- $15 million for the Brooker Highway.
- $6 million towards a $32.1 million upgrade of Wielangta Road.
- $3 million for the Mountain River Road and Huon Highway intersection.
- $1 million for design works at the Domain Highway intersection with the Brooker Highway.
- $1 million towards remediation of the Sorell Rivulet Bridge in Sorell.
An important part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's future is to get Tasmanians home to their loved ones safer and sooner by building better roads across the State.
Over the past decade under a Liberal Government, Tasmania’s population has been growing quickly and is well on track to exceed our 2050 target population of 650,000 people.
The increase in population, coupled with strong economic growth, will require matched infrastructure improvements to our roads and bridges, and even more incentives for Tasmanians to use public transport.
A re-elected Liberal majority Government will commit significant new funding to roads and bridges in the south of the State, from New Norfolk to Kingston, and the Eastern Shore to reduce traffic congestion and improve traffic flow and driver safety.
The new works will include –
- Fund the assessment of new freight route options between Brighton and Cambridge as an alternative access between the two freight hubs in order to provide safer and more efficient heavy vehicle travel and reduce pressure on the Tasman Highway and East Derwent Highway. Options include:
- Tea Tree Road, Back Tea Tree Road and Malcolms Hut Road linking to Richmond Road;
- Tea Tree Road, Middle Tea Tree Road, Colebrook Road and Richmond Road and the Cambridge Bypass; and
- Tea Tree Road and Colebrook Road linking with Richmond Road and the Cambridge Bypass.
- $20 million towards the extension of the northbound Southern Outlet transit lane from Tolmans Hill to Kingston, providing a priority lane for buses, emergency vehicles and vehicles with three or more occupants – reducing pressure on the two existing lanes and encouraging a shift to public transport.
- $1 million for detailed design work to understand the costs and benefits of a new Domain Highway/Brooker Highway interchange (also known as Cloverleaf), a known traffic congestion choke point and crash hot spot. The design will duplicate the current lanes, with a new grade-separate crossing of the Brooker to ease traffic flows between the northern suburbs (Brooker Highway), and Eastern Shore (via the Domain Highway and Tasman Bridge).
- $6 million towards a $32.1 million upgrade of Wielangta Road on Tasmania’s lower East Coast, subject to the Australian Government contributing 80 per cent toward the cost of this regional road project. This investment would deliver the sealing of 7 kilometres in the section most prone to damage and replacement of the Griffiths Rivulet and Seventeen Acre Creek Bridges, providing a route suitable for use in the event of a potential future closure or disruption of the Tasman Highway.
- $20 million towards traffic flow improvements on the 13.5 km section of the East Derwent Highway from the Midland Highway intersection at Bridgewater, to the eastern end of the Bowen Bridge. This will include improvements to the interchange with the Bowen Bridge, and duplication of sections to two lanes in each direction.
- $15 million towards additional traffic lanes and the extension of turning lanes in both directions on the Brooker Highway to alleviate traffic congestion.
- $20 million towards the Australian Government’s Mornington Roundabout project, including the provision of access to the east-bound lanes of the Tasman Highway from Rosny.
- $3 million contribution towards safety treatments at the intersection of the Huon Highway and Mountain River Road. Community feedback on the Huon Highway Corridor Study identified this intersection as the number one concern in relation to pedestrian and bus stop safety, with a range of intersecting factors requiring resolution.
- A $1 million contribution towards the remediation of the Sorell Rivulet Bridge, a strategic asset that services a growing community and a range of users including agricultural and water supply businesses, tourists and local residents.
In addition, the Liberal Government will continue delivery of its significant roads and bridge program of works already underway including:
- $350 million South-East Traffic Solution between Sorell and Hobart. Upcoming stages will deliver duplication of the remaining sections of the Tasman Highway between the Hobart International Airport and Sorell, including both the Sorell and Midway Point Causeways and McGees Bridge.
- $786 million new Bridgewater Bridge. This project is supporting more than 1,000 direct and indirect jobs and is taking shape before our eyes. This is our largest ever transport infrastructure project and is expected to be fully completed in mid-2025.
- $565 million Midland Highway, 10-year Action Plan. This project is more than two-thirds complete and we are now on the final stretch, with all sections expected to be completed by early 2025.
- Our $217.8 million Greater Hobart Traffic Solution to manage peak commuter demand in the Hobart area. Upcoming stages will deliver a transit lane for use by buses, taxis, motorcycles and private cars with three or more passengers, and create a smoother run along the Southern Outlet while eliminating the bottleneck between Macquarie and Davey Streets.
- $50 million upgrade to the Arthur Highway, with a corridor study almost complete which will identify a range of short, medium and long-term priorities for works on this important tourist route.
- $55 million major upgrade to the Algona Roundabout, with works to go to tender in the next 12 months following environmental approvals, and construction estimated to take two years.
- $60 million to duplicate South Arm Road from Pass Road to the south of the Rokeby commercial district, and to upgrade the Acton Road intersection. Planning and design are well advanced, and the first elements of this package of upgrades is expected to go to tender in mid-2024 to commence construction in the 2024-25 summer season.
- $29.2 million to complete construction of a new road around the eastern side of the Huonville township. This project will divert traffic heading to Cygnet away from Main Street, reducing congestion and improving safety through the Huonville town centre, and is expected to be open to traffic in early 2025.
Importantly, the Greater Hobart Traffic Solution includes $130 million in State and Federal funding for the Tasman Bridge Pathways project, enabling safe and efficient pedestrian, cycling and other active transport options across the Derwent, reducing traffic congestion on one of our busiest roadways.
Net Cost: These initiatives form part of our $2.3 billion State Roads commitments over the next four years.