As the new Minister for Infrastructure, I am enormously proud to have responsibility for our record investment into our job creating infrastructure in Tasmania.
Our investment is all about maintaining the momentum in the Tasmanian economy and investing for future growth, with this year’s budget alone providing more than $323 million in new road projects, upgrades and maintenance across the state in 2019-20 alone.
In fact, this year’s budget supports the creation of 10,000 jobs, with infrastructure projects representing a considerable opportunity for economic and jobs growth for Tasmania.
The transformation of our key North-South corridor through our $500 million Midland Highway 10 Year Action Planis being delivered througha funding partnership between the Morrison Liberal Government and the Hodgman Liberal Government.
Since launching in 2015, the Action Plan has delivered twelve upgrade projects along the Highway. Four others are currently underway including the $92.3 million Perth Links Roads project, which when complete will deliver a bypass around Perth and a four lane connection between south of Perth and Launceston.
The project is the single biggest in the Midland Highway 10 Year Action Plan and is on track to be completed in 2021.
A large amount of earthmoving has already been completed and two bridges have been built. Since May, traffic has been transferred to a long-term detour through a newly constructed section of the project site to allow work to proceed smoothly and to ensure the safety of road users and construction workers. Work will continue through the winter on construction of the 4.5 kilometre highway around the western side of Perth, including a new interchange at Illawarra Road, and roundabout near the South Esk River Bridge.
The project will also include highway access ramps at the northern end of Perth, an underpass for the existing rail line south of Illawarra Road and cycling path from Drummond Street to Illawarra Road.
By August this year, we expect that 91 kilometres or 62 per cent of the Action Plan works will either be completed, or under construction.
We along with the Morrison Government are investing in building the infrastructure that will benefit Tasmanians for generations, to provide better access to jobs and to support our productive industries and regional communities.
Drone and time lapse vision of the Perth Links Road project is available here: https://files.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/index.php/s/Tu05C6lZ6XfOx9Y
