Michael Ferguson,Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
We are now on the road to recovery and our plan to rebuild a stronger Tasmania includes an additional $40 million over the next two years for roads and bridges, bringing our total spend to a staggering $793 million over two years.
This is part of the Tasmanian Liberal Government's $1.8 billion job-creating infrastructure investment program right across the state, which has an estimated construction value of $3.1 billion.
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.
We also have a significant pipeline of projects that will be tendered in the coming months. This includes:
- The Bass Highway Cooee-Wynyard road realignment;
- Stage 1 of Wynyard to Marrawah upgrades;
- Further investment in the Great Eastern Drive at St Helens;
- The duplication of the East Derwent Highway;
- Upgrades of the Batman Highway;
- The duplication of the Tasman Highway at Midway Point as part of the South East Traffic Solution; and
- The installation of traffic systems on the Tasman Highway.
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, a project of keen interest to Central Highlands Mayor Loueen Triffit;
- 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.
By awarding these contracts sooner and getting them into the hands of civil contractors, we will provide the local construction industry with certainty for their businesses and for their workers.
The best way to get our budget back on track, grow business confidence and create jobs for Tasmanians is to grow the economy, and that is exactly what we are doing.
