The Tasmanian Liberal Government is building the vital road infrastructure our state needs, with a number of projects already underway and even more being fast tracked to help stimulate the economy.
Today, we can announce Tasmanian business Hazell Bros Group has been awarded the contracts for the first four priority projects on the West Tamar Highway.
The four West Tamar priority projects form part of a $14 million package of works identified in the Tasmanian Liberal Government’s six-point plan to improve traffic flow and safety, and cater for future development along the West Tamar Highway.
We have committed to improve the liveability of communities along this highway by making it safer, and improving travel time reliability to and from Launceston.
The four projects identified under this plan will commence construction in Spring this year, with upgrades including:
- Widening the highway and new footpaths between Rosevears Drive and Gravelly Beach Road.
- Further widening between Atkinsons Road and Waldhorn Drive.
- The highway will also be widened between Exeter and the Batman Highway junction to allow for the construction of a new northbound and southbound overtaking lane.
- Works to improve sight distances will also be completed at the intersection of the West Tamar Highway and Motor Road.
This highway is the primary commuter road corridor to Launceston for residents in the suburbs of Trevallyn, Riverside, Legana, Rosevears, Bridgenorth, Grindelwald, Exeter, Beaconsfield and Beauty Point.
It is also an important tourist route around the Tamar Valley wine region and is a gazetted B-Double route. The corridor also functions as a key recreational and commuter cyclist route to and from Launceston.
While we are getting on with projects like this one, we are also fast tracking other projects, and injecting an additional $40 million into road and bridge projects.
As part of our plan to boost the economy and secure jobs for Tasmanians, we are expediting procurement for 12 road construction projects under the COVID-19 Economic Support Package.
The first tranche of projects are now out to market, including:
- Safety upgrades on the Highland Lakes Road at the ‘Pub with No Beer’ corner;
- Improved turning facilities on the Bass Highway at Boat Harbour, which marks the start of our work on the $100 million upgrades of the Bass Highway west of Wynyard; and
- Road widening and improved turning facilities on the Arthur Highway at Eaglehawk Neck.
A further nine projects will be put to market under this process and will include bridge strengthening works, the upgrade of Binalong Bay Road, the Bruny Island landside infrastructure, and road widening works on the Midland Highway between Powranna and Tunbridge.
As part of our infrastructure blitz to rebuild a stronger Tasmania, we are investing a further $40 million into roads and bridges over the next two years, bringing our total two year spend on roads and bridges to a staggering $793 million.
The new $40 million will be invested into much needed road and bridge upgrades, such as and including:
- A new overpass and slip lanes at the Leith Road intersection on the Bass Highway;
- Upgrading the Apsley River bridge on the iconic Great Eastern Drive;
- Improving Bridport Road west of Dalrymple; and
- Upgrading the local road connections to the imminent duplication of the East Derwent Highway at Geilston Bay.
For more information on the West Tamar projects, visit https://www.transport.tas.gov.au/projectsplanning/road_projects/north_east_road_projects/west_tamar_highway_safety_-_improvements
I would like to submit a suggestion for the Gravelly Beach turn off just prior to Exeter.
Coming out of Gravelly Beach and wanting to turn right to Exeter there is very little road view time to see traffic coming from town. There is only a little more road view time for the traffic coming from Exeter.
My suggestion is a set of traffic lights at the intersection previously mentioned.
The T intersection could have a good continuous traffic flow if the lights are synchronized as follows.
The exit from the Blackwall hill needs two lanes, one for a right turn to Exeter the other for a filter lane to Launceston.
The access to Blackwall needs two lanes, one for the entrance into Blackwall the other for the route into Exeter.
The road from Exeter to Launceston already has a filter lane into Blackwall.
If the lights are synchronized as follows:
Blackwall at stop the left filer can keep going into the Tamar Highway to Launceston, when safe.
The left Exeter filter to Blackwall, can go when save, as the Launceston to Blackwall would have precedence.
Launceston to Exeter at stop: the Blackwall to Launceston & Exeter would give way to the Exeter Launceston traffic flow.
Exeter at stop:
Backwall filter to Launceston will go, Blackwall to Exeter would have to give way to Launceston traffic. Exeter filter would give way to Launceston traffic turning off to go down Blackwall hill.
I think this format would assist with smooth safe traffic flow.
I agree with the comments from Michael Gorham. The T intersection of Gravelly Beach Road and the West Tamar Highway needs a serious upgrade. The major problem is turning right out of Gravelly Beach Road towards Exeter. The is not enough line of sight for traffice coming around the bend just before the Gravelly Beach run off making the turning very dangerous. I should imagine there would be a lot of parents using this in the morning taking children to school in the mornings. Although there is a 60k speed limit there is not enough time and a lot of people travelling toward Exeter ignore this limit adding to the danger. The new plans have the upgrade for traffic travelling toward Exeter turning into Gravelly Beach Road, This is not the problem the danger is turning out of Gravelly Beach Road toward Exeter. A roundabout or traffic lights would negate this danger. I myself have had close calls at this T junction as have many people I have talked to about this and all agree the turning out of Gravelly Beach Road toward Exeter is in need of a roundabout or traffic lights