Michael Ferguson,Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
Congratulations to Gradco, a Tasmanian company with a proud 65 year history, which has been awarded the $3.8 million tender for safety improvements to the Great Eastern Drive.
This is part of the Tasmanian Liberal Government's Road Package to support Tasmania's Visitor Economy, with a series of upgrades on the Great Eastern Drive being progressed.
Our $30 million Great Eastern Drive Action Plan is improving overall safety and travel reliability along this key touring route, and at the last election we also committed an additional $4.5 million to extend the route to Binalong Bay Road.
We know our tourism industry is hurting right now, but Tasmanians are getting back on the road exploring our beautiful state, and these upgrades will benefit our local and visitor economy for many years to come.
The package of works Gradco will undertake will improve safety at junctions, and entrances to popular tourism experiences on this stretch of the Tasman Highway.
This is the fourth contract of works to be awarded on Great Eastern Drive upgrades, with works to begin in the coming weeks on the turn treatments at:
- Rosedale Road;
- Saltworks Road;
- Piermont Retreat;
- Freycinet Vineyard;
- East Coast Nature World;
- Cressy Beach;
- The Pondering Frog;
- Swan River Road; as well as
- Junction upgrades at Louisville Road and the Pontypool Road.
Last month, works were completed at Kelvedon Beach, Rocky Hills, Hughes Point, Mariposa Beach, Avalon Accommodation access, Elephant Pass Road junction, Milton Vineyard access, Devils Corner access and Ironhouse Brewery access.
Future upgrades on the Great Eastern Drive will include further road safety and road widening treatments, road improvements and overtaking facilities between St Helens and Dianas Basin, and an extension of the Great Eastern Drive to Binalong Bay Road.
By continuing to roll out our infrastructure blitz, we are providing Tasmanian employers like Gradco with a reliable pipeline of works that will continue to support our economy in these difficult times. Not only are we pressing on with our existing record capital program, but we have added to it, now with more than $827 million in roads and bridges works scheduled over the next two years.
