Tasmanians have helped the State Government identify a range of potential improvements – such as heightened safety, efficiency and freight capacity – as priorities for the East Tamar Highway upgrades.
Tasmanian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Michael Ferguson, said the feedback was gathered during an extensive community consultation in October and November 2022, and has been compiled into a report which is now available on the Transport website.
“A total of 418 individual comments were received during the consultation via an online interactive map, phone calls, emails and feedback forms,” Mr Ferguson said.
“Most common were calls for increased speed limits on straight sections of the highway, provision of cycling lanes, increased road and shoulder widths, truck rest stops and improved safety at key intersections along the length of the highway.
“This feedback, along with technical assessments undertaken by the Department of State Growth, will be used to develop a strategy to improve the highway from Launceston to George Town.
“Improvements to the East Tamar Highway are likely to include safety improvements such as road-widening and intersection works, extra overtaking opportunities and duplication of sections and support for active transport.
“The East Tamar Highway Corridor Strategy will prioritise upgrades, with individual projects to be delivered in future based on available budget allocations, and is expected to be released in late 2023.
“Enhancing this section of the East Tamar Highway is part of a joint commitment to improving highways in the north of the state to improve safety and efficiency on these key routes.”
The Federal and Tasmanian Governments have committed a total of $420 million to fund upgrades to the East Tamar, West Tamar and Bass highways under the Northern Roads Package Stage Two program.
The exact portion of these funds to be spent along the East Tamar Highway is still to be finalised.
