Significant safety upgrades to get underway on TAS Bass Highway

The Australian and Tasmanian Governments have locked in critical investments to deliver significant safety boost on the Bass Highway.

The $420 million Tasmanian Roads – Northern Roads Package Stage 2 is funded with $336 million from the Australian Government and $84 million from the Tasmanian Government.

The next stage of the Northern Roads Package will include upgrades to the East Tamar Highway, West Tamar Highway and Bass Highway, which will support increasing heavy vehicle movement while improving safety for all road users.

Works are underway on the West Tamar Highway, and it includes the nearly completed lane duplication between Freshwater Point Road and Acropolis Drive, intersection improvements, and the construction of cycling and pedestrian infrastructure.

“Upgrades are already underway on the West Tamar Highway through Stage 2 of the Tasmanian Roads – Northern Roads Package and I’m sure these improvements along the Bass Highway will be welcomed by the local communities along here.

“We’re committed to working with the Tasmanian Government to make Northern Tasmania’s roads safer and more efficient for locals, tourists and truckies,” Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said.

“Collaboration on enhanced road safety with the Australian Government is a win-win for the entire state.

“It means our busiest highways, like the Bass, can safely support the increasing number of cars on our roads,” TAS Minister for Infrastructure Kerry Vincent said.

The recently announced next stage of the upgrade will improve two sections of the Bass Highway between Latrobe and Deloraine.

Targeted safety improvements such as intersection upgrades, shoulder widening, a central safety barrier and a westbound heavy vehicle rest area will be delivered along a 3.5-kilometre stretch from Christmas Hills Road to Deloraine.

Meanwhile further north along a 5.1-kilometre section between Latrobe and Sassafras, safety upgrades at Oppenheims Road and the Cutting Road/East Sassafras Road intersection will install central safety barriers, widen shoulders, improve signage and line marking, and consolidate direct access points to prevent unsafe parking and crossings near the service station.

The upgrades will not only improve safety, but will also boost network reliability for everyone using the Bass Highway.

The development phase for both sections is progressing well, with construction anticipated to commence in April 2027 and be completed by mid-2028.

“These works will increase road safety for Deloraine locals and Christmas Hills agricultural producers, reducing the risk of crashes and fatalities across one of Tasmania’s busiest highway.

“I’m looking forward to seeing works progress as we continue to deliver reliable road connections across Tasmania,” Federal Member for Lyons Rebecca White said.

“These upgrades between Sassafras and Latrobe are a big win for the local community and will help ensure Tasmanians arrive at their destinations safely.

“The Bass Highway is a critical freight link for Braddon, and these works will help keep goods moving safely between Devonport, Latrobe and Launceston,” Federal Member for Braddon Anne Urquhart said.

Source: Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government; Tasmanian Government – Transport Services; Roads & Infrastructure Australia