Michael Ferguson,Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
We are working hard to improve safety and travel time reliability on the Bass Highway, with two tenders released for upgrades on the highway, and another contract awarded for safety upgrades at Boat Harbour Primary School.
The Tasmanian Liberal Government and Morrison Government are pushing ahead with our major infrastructure program on this important highway. The projects form part of two strategies – the $100 million Wynyard to Marrawah Corridor Strategy and the $50 million Bass Highway Cooee to Wynyard Road Upgrades Program.
The community voted for our $150 million plan to upgrade the Bass Highway, and we are delivering it.
As well as improving safety and travel time reliability, these upgrades will support growth and provide efficient transport on this key corridor for freight, tourists and local residents.
I am also pleased to announce that respected Tasmanian business Hazell Bros has been awarded the contract to build improved turning facilities on the Bass Highway at Boat Harbour Primary School, under the Wynyard to Marrawah Corridor Strategy.
This will provide safer access to the school, Dobsons Lane, Fists Lane and the Boat Harbour store for our children and the local community.
These works have been fast tracked as part of the Tasmanian Liberal Government’s plan to stimulate the economy and provide jobs for Tasmanians, and are expected to begin in Spring this year.
Additionally, tenders are now open for a single design and construct contract covering six projects under the Wynyard to Marrawah Corridor Strategy.
These include junction improvements and overtaking lanes at various points along this section of the highway.
Under the Cooee-Wynyard program, tenders are also open for the realignment of the Bass Highway, west of Somerset.
This will include reducing sharp corners and bends, providing overtaking lanes and installing a central median flexible safety barrier.
These important upgrades are part of the Australian and Tasmanian governments’ record $827.3 million investment for road and bridge construction projects over the next two years.
Both tenders will close in September 2020, with contracts expected to be awarded around late October.
