The largest project in the $500 million 10-year Midland Highway Action Plan is now being fast-tracked by two years, injecting approximately $120 million into the Northern Tasmania economy.
The Tasmanian and Australian Governments have announced that construction on the Perth Links Roads project is expected to commence before the end of 2017.
According to Federal minister for infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester, the Perth Link Roads project is a vital part of the half-a-billion dollar Midland Highway Upgrade.
“We know that better, safer roads changes lives and saves lives, so bringing the Perth Link Roads project forward will have an enormous impact on everyday motorists as well as Tasmania’s freight industry.
“The project will connect the current upgrades underway between Symmons Plains and Perth and from Perth to Breadalbane. The upgrade works will run from the South Esk River Bridge to the Illawarra Road in the west and connect with the new Perth to Breadalbane section of the Midland Highway north of the town,” Mr Chester said.
Mr Chester also said that by removing heavy vehicles from the centre of Perth – but still ensuring that the town can be accessed from both the north and the south – the main street will be safer for pedestrians and, at the same time, freight operators can save time.
The 10-year Midland Highway Action Plan is part of the Australian Government’s Economic Growth Plan for the state of Tasmania.
“This is a massive project which will improve connectivity between the south and north of Tasmania and aims to achieve a 3 star AusRAP safety rating standard along its entire length. The end result is better infrastructure for the state’s various industries and job security for thousands of people,” Mr Chester said.
According to Tasmanian Minister for Infrastructure Rene Hidding, work on the overall upgrade is progressing well and the projects at Kempton, Bagdad as well as Tunbridge are expected to be completed in the coming months.
“A project this size and cost will result in millions being injected back into the economy with numerous flow-on benefits for local businesses. Its completion will also increase the productivity of our freight industry by allowing greater volumes of freight between Hobart and the state’s north per day.
“We are already realising the safety benefits of the upgrade with the central wire rope barrier installed on one of the first projects delivered, preventing a potentially fatal outcome from a recent crash,” Mr Hidding said.
The Perth Link Road design will go on public display in Perth as well as on the Midland Highway website on 18th March 2017.
Tender for the Perth Link Roads project is expected to be released by mid-2017, with construction expected to commence in late 2017. The project is set to be completed in 2020.
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Source: Premier of Tasmania and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport