Michael Ferguson,Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is building the vital road infrastructure our state needs, with a number of projects already underway and even more being fast tracked to help stimulate the economy.
Today, we can announce Tasmanian business Hazell Bros Group has been awarded the contracts for the first four priority projects on the West Tamar Highway.
The four West Tamar priority projects form part of a $14 million package of works identified in the Tasmanian Liberal Government's six-point plan to improve traffic flow and safety, and cater for future development along the West Tamar Highway.
We have committed to improve the liveability of communities along this highway by making it safer, and improving travel time reliability to and from Launceston.
The four projects identified under this plan will commence construction in Spring this year, with upgrades including:
- Widening the highway and new footpaths between Rosevears Drive and Gravelly Beach Road.
- Further widening between Atkinsons Road and Waldhorn Drive.
- The highway will also be widened between Exeter and the Batman Highway junction to allow for the construction of a new northbound and southbound overtaking lane.
- Works to improve sight distances will also be completed at the intersection of the West Tamar Highway and Motor Road.
This highway is the primary commuter road corridor to Launceston for residents in the suburbs of Trevallyn, Riverside, Legana, Rosevears, Bridgenorth, Grindelwald, Exeter, Beaconsfield and Beauty Point.
It is also an important tourist route around the Tamar Valley wine region and is a gazetted B-Double route. The corridor also functions as a key recreational and commuter cyclist route to and from Launceston.
While we are getting on with projects like this one, we are also fast tracking other projects, and injecting an additional $40 million into road and bridge projects.
As part of our plan to boost the economy and secure jobs for Tasmanians, we are expediting procurement for 12 road construction projects under the COVID-19 Economic Support Package.
The first tranche of projects are now out to market, including:
- Safety upgrades on the Highland Lakes Road at the 'Pub with No Beer' corner;
- Improved turning facilities on the Bass Highway at Boat Harbour, which marks the start of our work on the $100 million upgrades of the Bass Highway west of Wynyard; and
- Road widening and improved turning facilities on the Arthur Highway at Eaglehawk Neck.
A further nine projects will be put to market under this process and will include bridge strengthening works, the upgrade of Binalong Bay Road, the Bruny Island landside infrastructure, and road widening works on the Midland Highway between Powranna and Tunbridge.
As part of our infrastructure blitz to rebuild a stronger Tasmania, we are investing a further $40 million into roads and bridges over the next two years, bringing our total two year spend on roads and bridges to a staggering $793 million.
The new $40 million will be invested into much needed road and bridge upgrades, such as and including:
- A new overpass and slip lanes at the Leith Road intersection on the Bass Highway;
- Upgrading the Apsley River bridge on the iconic Great Eastern Drive;
- Improving Bridport Road west of Dalrymple; and
- Upgrading the local road connections to the imminent duplication of the East Derwent Highway at Geilston Bay.
