Construction works have commenced on the $92.3 million Perth Link Roads project, marking the largest single project in Tasmania’s decade-long $500 million Midland Highway Action Plan.
The Federal Government has committed $83.1 million to the project, with the Tasmanian Government committing the remaining $9.2 million.
The project will deliver the final link in a dual carriageway along the Midland Highway from Launceston to the south of Perth.
Works will also include creating a dedicated shared path that will improve pedestrian and cyclist connections between Longford and Breadalbane.
Tasmanian joint venture VEC-Shaw will deliver the project.
Detailed design is now underway and early works have started onsite. Construction is expected to start in late-2018 and be completed by mid-2021.
The aims of the project are to increase safety, reduce traffic noise and ease congestion in the area by diverting heavy vehicles and traffic from the Perth town centre.
The Perth Link Roads project marks another step in improving safety along the length of the highway to a minimum three-star AusRAP safety rating, and will create an estimated 166 direct jobs and 25 indirect jobs during construction.
To date, 13 projects have been completed as part of the $500 million Midland Highway Upgrade, jointly funded by the Australian and Tasmanian governments.
Construction on a number of other projects is progressing, including York Plains to St Peters Pass, Mangalore to Bagdad Stage 2 (Mangalore), Epping Forest to Powranna and St Peters Pass to south of Tunbridge.
