Planning begins on $100m Lyell Highway improvement works
Works to upgrade the Lyell Highway between Granton and New Norfolk in Tasmania will soon get underway as planning commences on the project.
Works to identify what improvements will be carried out on the highway will now get underway. Proposed improvements will include adding lanes as well as widening and realigning parts of Lyell Highway to improve safety and travel times for all road users.
The Australian and Tasmanian Governments have jointly committed $100 million towards the project, each contributing $80 million and $20 million respectively.
“The Australian Government is committed to improving safety on Tasmanian roads and cutting travel times for commuters.
“The Lyell Highway upgrade will boost safety and reliability of travel times along narrow sections of the highway.
“This will greatly improve access to tourism hotspots and vital community facilities in New Norfolk and the Derwent Valley,” Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said.
“I’m thrilled the Australian Government continues to invest heavily in Tasmania, helping to keep Tasmanians safe.
“Road safety is a shared responsibility across all levels of government and across the community.
“Upgrading the Lyell Highway will help reduce the risks of serious crashes and fatalities, bolstering road safety,” Federal Senator for Tasmania Catryna Bilyk said.
This funding commitment will continue the progressive upgrade of the Lyell Highway, a main transport link between Hobart and Tasmania’s west coast.
AECOM Australia has been contracted by the Tasmanian Government to prepare a strategy to improve the entire length of the Lyell Highway from Granton to Strahan.
Planning works being carried out now will help inform how to best improve safety, capacity and the resilience of Lyell Highway.
The upgrades to the Granton to New Norfolk section of the highway will be developed as part of this strategy.
Recently, a $19 million upgrade to the highway between Queenstown and Strahan was completed. The project was also jointly funded by the Australian and Tasmanian Governments, with the former committing $15 million.
“This new funding supports the Tasmanian Government’s record investment in road and bridge infrastructure and our ongoing commitment to keeping Tasmania moving under our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future.
“About 10,500 vehicles travel between Granton and New Norfolk daily – an increase of 25 per cent over the past 10 years.
“These improvements will couple with work currently underway as part of the Bridgewater Bridge project to provide a smoother, more seamless connection with the Brooker Highway,” Tasmanian Attorney-General and Member for Lyons Guy Barnett said.
“This funding is all about improving motorists’ travelling experiences and making sure that people can enjoy everything Tasmania has to offer on safe roads.
“Our investment in safer roads that are fit for purpose will go a long way in protecting all road users, including tourists, residents and community members,” Federal Member for Lyons Brian Mitchell said.
Source: Premier of Tasmania – Latest News; Tasmanian Government – Transport Services; Pulse Tasmania; New Norfolk News
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$100m funding to deliver 12 bridge strengthening works across TAS
While strengthening works are being carried out to nine Tasmanian bridges, tenders have been opened for 12 more bridges this year as part of a $100 million upgrade program.
The projects to upgrade Tasmania’s freight route are jointly funded by the Australian and Tasmanian Governments under the five-year Freight Capacity Upgrade Program – each committing $80 million and $20 million respectively.
“The Australian Government is committed to improving road safety and freight efficiency across Tasmania.
“We know how important it is to deliver infrastructure that will ease congested roads while also creating opportunities for Tasmanians.
“That is why we will continue to partner with the Tasmanian Government to deliver the Freight Capacity Upgrade Program,” Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said.
By strengthening or replacing bridges and improving sections of roads, this program of works will help increase freight capacity of critical and regional freight routes across the State.
15 roads and bridge strengthening projects under the program have already been completed to date, including Pipers River Bridge as well as sections on the Bass, Midland, Lyell and Huon highways.
A $2.2 million contract has been awarded to Fulton Hogan to advance strengthening works on nine bridges.
“The program is supporting Tasmania’s economic growth by increasing freight efficiency, enabling increased safe operating loads, and making travel times more predictable for freight operators.
“It supports productivity by improving the roads freight vehicles travel on day to day.
“Repairing and strengthening these sections of road and bridges will also improve road safety for all road users and reduce maintenance costs,” TAS Infrastructure Minister Kerry Vincent said.
Six of the nine bridges are on the north west – at Argent River, Arthur River, Mole Creek, Leslie Station Creek, Don River and Pardoe Creek.
Meanwhile, the other bridges are at Wellards Creek, Norforlk Creek and Allans Creek on the Arthur Highway in the State’s south east.
Work at eight sites is now underway, with some nearing completion. Construction to strengthen the bridge at Leslie Station Creek, on the other hand, will begin this year.
As part of the Freight Capacity Upgrade Program, a total of 35 bridges are currently planned to be strengthened and three to be replaced.
“These much-needed bridge strengthening works will increase road and bridge network capability to increase freight productivity for critical state industries such as agriculture and manufacturing.
“The Australian Government will continue to invest in infrastructure projects across Tasmania to ensure efficient and safer travel for truck and heavy vehicle freight well into the future,” Senator for Tasmania Anne Urquhart said.
Source: Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government; Premier of Tasmania – Latest News; Roads & Infrastructure Australia
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A $100 million program of works that will further improve freight access across Tasmania’s state road network is getting underway.
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