TAS Govt's $2.7bn investment to build roads & bridges across the state

The Tasmanian Government is staying committed to strengthening the State’s economy through the delivery of much-needed infrastructure, with new funding allocated for roads and bridges through the 2022-23 State Budget. 

The now $2.7 billion funding for roads and bridges will deliver several projects including the largest transport project in the State’s history – the $786 million new Bridgewater Bridge – that is jointly funded by the Tasmanian and Australian Governments along with other co-funded projects such as: 

• The continuation of the $565 million Midland Highway Action Plan 
• The $350 million South-East Traffic Solution between Sorell and Hobart 
• The $120 million project to improve the Sideling section of the Tasman Highway between Scottsdale and Launceston 
• $280 million in works on the Bass Highway between Launceston and Marrawah 

A statement from Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Michael Ferguson said: “The co-funding represents an unprecedented investment in Tasmania’s road and bridge infrastructure following a record $317 million investment in 2020-21 and a new record spend to be out the door in the current financial year.” 

With the additional funding from the 2022-23 State Budget, the $2.7 billion budget will deliver roads and bridges in the North, South, North-West and South Coast regions. 

Projects in the South include: 

• $786 million Bridgewater Bridge – a new four-lane bridge to be built downstream the existing river crossing to help reduce congestion and travel times. The project will also include two new interchanges at Bridgewater and Granton to help improve connections between Brooker, Lyell and Midland Highways along with a new dedicated shared path to ensure cyclists and pedestrians can cross the river safely. Construction of the new bridge is expected to support up to 830 jobs, including 200 new jobs for Tasmanians. The new Bridgewater Bridge is due for completion in 2024. 
• $349.5 million South-East Traffic Solution, which consists of: 
  • The Hobart Airport Interchange project – under construction and to be completed in mid-2022 
  • Highway duplication near Tasmania Golf Club – pending approval of environmental assessment 
  • Removal of the roundabout at Midway Point and duplication of the highway through Midway Point – under construction and to be completed in mid-2022 
  • Comprehensive planning for the duplication of the Sorell and Midway Point causeways – construction to be completed in 2025 
  • The Sorell Southern Bypass – under construction and to be completed in June 2022 
  • An overtaking lane on the Arthur Highway near Iron Creek – already completed 
• $204.8 million Greater Hobart Traffic Solution – delivery of short and long-term initiatives to help manage peak commuter demand in the Hobart area. Works will deliver additional lane capacity to the Southern Outlet and Macquarie Street, dedicated bus lanes and peak time clearways on Macquarie and Davey streets. A new bus transit centre in central Hobart will also be delivered as part of the Greater Hobart transport package under the Hobart City Deal. New shared pathways on the Tasman Bridge will be delivered as well to enable safer and easier access for pedestrians and cyclists. 

Projects in the North include: 

• $120 million Sideling on the Tasman Highway – upgrading the Tasman Highway from just south of St Patricks River Bridge across the Sideling to Scottsdale to a B-Double standard. Stage 1 of the project – divided into two sections – will upgrade the highway between Minstone Road and the Sideling lookout. Tenders for the first section from Sideline lookout to Whish-Wilson Road is currently being finalised while the second section from the intersection of Whish-Wilson Road to the intersection of Minstone Road is in the design stage. The first section is due to be completed in 2023 while the second section will go to tender later this year and be completed in 2024. 
• $80 million Illawarra Road upgrades – upgrading the Illawarra Main Road from the Perth Link to the Bass Highway to improve this stretch of road to a Category 1 standard and achieve a three-star AusRap safety rating. Once completed, the upgraded road will be able to provide better connections between agricultural regions and ports, airports as well as other transport hubs. The upgrades will also enable better access to tourism, mining and other sectors. 
• $75.1 million Launceston and Tamar Valley Traffic Vision – a series of projects that will address growing traffic congestion issues in the Launceston and Tamar Valley road network. The projects will help improve the movement of high productivity freight through the City of Launceston and will deliver improvements on the West Tamar Highway north of Legana along with safety improvements to the Batman Highway. 
• $100 million East and West Tamar Highway upgrades – the project will include lane separation, junction improvements and overtaking lanes as well as integration with the new Tamar River Bridge that forms part of an integrated package of works to help reduce congestion and improve traffic flow in Launceston and the Tamar Valley. 

Projects in the North-West and Central Coast include: 

• $280 million Bass Highway Action Plan – a major program of works between Wynyard and Marrawah to improve safety and efficiency for this crucial link, including: 
  • Works to deliver new overtaking lanes, junction upgrades, road widening and safety improvements. 
  • Completed projects under this program include upgrades to Gates Road, Myalla Road and Mella Road as well as the construction of overtaking lanes near Monateric Road and Dallas Road. 
  • Two projects that are scheduled to begin this year, including the realignment of the highway between Baulds Road and Tollymore Road at Table Cape and upgrades to Dunn Street junction at Crayfish Creek. 
  • Delivery of safety improvements continuing at Togari, including shoulder widening and road rehabilitation between Paceys Road and Salmon Rover Road, upgrades to the junction of the Bass Highway with Paceys Road, Parks Road and Salmon River Road and replacement of the Montagu River Bridge 
  • Recently started works to realign the Bass Highway between Siding Road at Boat Harbour and Broomhills Road at Sisters Creek and safety upgrades to the junction of the Bass Highway and Morris Road 
  • Replacement of the Cam River Bridge under an $18.8 million contract awarded to VEC Civil Engineering 
  • Installation of traffic signals at the junction of the Murchison and Bass highways to improve traffic flow 
• $50.1 million West Coast (Lyell, Zeehan and Murchison highways) – delivery of improvements to key highways that link to the productive West Coast region 

Source: Tasmanian Government – Media Releases (1, 2, 3)