TAS Great Eastern Dive upgrades progresses to the next stage

The Tasmanian Government is progressing works to upgrade the Great Eastern Dive to improve safety for locals and tourists alike, attracting more visitors to experience what the region has to offer.

The upgrades on the Great Eastern Drive is part of the $72 million Roads Package to Support Tasmania’s Visitor Economy - a package of works that will improve Tasmania’s tourist roads.

The Great Eastern Drive upgrades will be delivered in stage and the first stage has been completed in May 2019.

Stage 2 of the upgrade is now underway and the $2.5 million project will include improvements to the Coles Bay Road left-turn junction as well as the delivery of dedicated right-turn lanes at Basin Creek and Flagstaff Road. Works under the second stage are due to be completed by mid-2020.

The tender for Stage 3 has also been released and submissions will be closed by mid-November of this year.

The next stages of the upgrade will include:

• Road widening and safety treatments at entries to popular tourism experiences, including wineries and cellar doors
• Road improvements and overtaking facilities between St Helens and Dianas Basin
• Extension of the Great Eastern Drive to Binalong Bay Road, including upgrades to the road
• Further safety improvements as required

Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Michael Ferguson said in a statement: “All of these works on the Great Eastern Drive are part of our commitment to ensuring Tasmania’s reputation as a premium destination is protected, for locals and visitors alike. And it’s only possible thanks to our policies, which are growing the economy and carefully managing the budget.”

The Great Eastern Dive is a 176-kilometre section of the Tasman Highway that runs between Orford to St Helens on the region’s East Coast.

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Source: Tasmanian Government (1, 2); Roads & Infrastructure Australia