A re-elected majority Liberal Government will get Tasmanians home to their loved ones safer and sooner as part of our 2030 Strong Plan to build better roads across the State.
Premier, Jeremy Rockliff, said Tasmania’s increasing population, strong economy and prudent budget means we can upgrade more roads and bridges for Tasmanians living in the North.
“We’ve come a long way over the past 10 years, investing $2.2 billion to improve our roads, but we know there’s more to do,” he said.
“Tasmania has gone through a significant period of population and economic growth over the past decade, which has put pressure on our roads and bridges infrastructure.
“Our significant 2030 Strong Plan Roads and Bridges package will see new works commence under a re-elected majority Liberal Government, including:
- $80 million towards the construction of a new bridge across the Tamar River between Riverside and University Way at Newnham;
- $20 million towards the duplication of the Bass Highway into a consistent four-lane link between Launceston and Deloraine;
- $20 million for upgrades to the East Tamar Highway, including additional overtaking lanes, road-widening, intersection improvements and duplication of sections to two lanes in each direction;
- $20 million to upgrade the West Tamar Highway, completing the Legana duplication and associated works, and the Legana to Beauty Point section of the highway; and
- $5 million to upgrade Bridport Road.
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Michael Ferguson, said that the Tasmanian Government had completed a business case for the construction of a second Tamar River crossing between the West Tamar Highway, to secure the necessary investment from the Australian Government to ensure this project proceeds.
“This strong commitment is in stark contrast to Labor, which has continually fought against this project for the people of Launceston, including through the 2021 election campaign when they thoroughly rejected the project,” the Minister said.
“The business case will be subject to a full and open public consultation on the potential preferred location and alignment.”
The 2030 Strong Plan package is in addition to road upgrades currently underway across the North, including the:
- $565 million Midland Highway 10-year Action Plan;
- $120 million Sideling Stage 1 upgrades and improvements, along the section of the Tasman Highway between Scottsdale and Launceston;
- $84 million East and West Tamar Highway upgrades and duplication between Freshwater Point Road and Acropolis Drive;
- $75 million Launceston and Tamar Valley traffic vision;
- $54 million Northern Regional State Roads upgrades for west of the Batman Bridge, Birralee Road and the eastern portion of Frankford Road; and
- Upgrades to Illawarra Road between Springfield to the Bass Highway.
“Only a re-elected majority Liberal Government with our 2030 Strong Plan will deliver safer and more efficient roads for all Tasmanians.”
