TAS Govt release plans for $280m Bass Highway corridor improvements

The Tasmanian Government is getting on with the delivery of the $280 million Bass Highway upgrade with the release of plans to improve this key freight link in Tasmania’s North West. 

Not only does the Bass Highway provide a critical connection to ports and industries, it is also a vital link for communities on the North West Coast. 

“While we have very successfully completed a range of projects west of Wynyard, we wanted to set out a properly considered and long term plan for upgrades that would ensure we deal with highest priorities first – just as we did with the Midland Highway. 

“The upgrades are part of our record investment in State roads and bridge program with $2.2 billion committed over the next four years,” Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Michael Ferguson said. 

The Bass Highway – Launceston to Devonport corridor strategy’s primary objective is to improve safety outcomes for all road users as well as improve efficiency, reliability and resilience of the road network, and to support economic growth and development in the region. 

The corridor strategy has identified 66 potential improvement areas over a 91-kilometre section of the Bass Highway from Hadspen to east of Port Sorell Road in Devonport, which have been categorised as short, medium and long-term priorities. 

“Short-term upgrade opportunities identified include the extension and creation of overtaking lanes at Parramatta Creek and Sassafras. They also include upgrading intersections at Christmas Hills Road, Oppenheims Road and Cutting Road/East Sassafras Road to improve safety. 

“Other high priority works identified include widening shoulders, installing safety barriers and improving the road condition at various points, and the creation of heavy vehicles rest areas,” Minister Ferguson said. 

The Bass Highway Corridor Strategy recommends five types if improvement projects, namely: 

• Carriageway separation 
• Intersection upgrades 
• Travel mode management initiatives 
• Visibility and road condition improvements 
• Improved heavy vehicle driver rest areas 

Of the five recommended improvement projects, three are considered for corridor-wide delivery – duplication, overtaking lanes and heavy vehicle driver rest areas. 

“The strategy follows an extensive consultation period with key stakeholders and the local community, with the feedback received used to help determine what needs to be done and the priority. 

“In addition to community input, the strategy has also looked at current and future demand and the highway’s safety performance. 

“The next steps will be to develop detailed designs and to construct the prioritised projects with the available funding for this section of the highway,” Minister Ferguson said. 

Source: Premier of Tasmania – News; Tasmanian Government – Transport Services; Roads & Infrastructure Australia