The Tasmanian Government is looking to build on record infrastructure investment with its latest submission to the Australian Government's Nation Building 2 Program (NB2).

Tasmania is seeking almost $900-million for 22 strategic infrastructure projects.

The Infrastructure Minister, David O'Byrne, said the projects support Tasmanian industry and jobs, by improving transport safety and efficiency.

"This submission is all about growing our economy, creating jobs and opportunities, and making our roads safer and more efficient," Mr O'Byrne said.

"We're talking generationally significant projects that will help shape Tasmania over the next decade and beyond.

"It's Government's role to invest strategically in the major works and projects that make our industries more efficient, and help them employ more Tasmanians.

"That's why we've prioritised freight efficiency and road safety in our comprehensive submission.

"Our Economic Development Plan is about diversifying Tasmania's economy and playing to our natural strengths. This submission is about developing the generationally significant infrastructure to help achieve that," he said.

The Tasmanian Government has already secured more than $800 million in Federal road and rail funding under Nation Building 1, between 2008 and 2014.

"That record investment is flowing from our strong and strategic relationship with the Federal Government, and this submission is the next important step," Mr O'Byrne said.  

NB2 is the major national transport funding program for all states and territories. It's a five-year program starting on July 1st, 2014.

The submission also includes a comprehensive public transport strategy and projects. The Minister for Sustainable Transport, Nick McKim, will be releasing details of those projects soon.

Freight

With the volume of freight moving through Tasmanian's ports, intermodal facilities and land transport networks forecast to grow, eight of Tasmania's NB2 projects focus on moving freight. They cover $618 million of the requested funding.

By tonnage, traffic volumes, and strategic land use connections, the Burnie to Hobart corridor is Tasmania's most significant freight corridor. It's Tasmania's key corridor for moving containerised freight - connecting major ports, the Brighton Transport Hub and key industrial and manufacturing centres in all three regions.

The Tasmanian Government is submitting the following projects under the Moving Freight theme:

• Tasmanian Rail Revitalisation Program: Concrete re-sleepering of the rail network between the Burnie Port and the Brighton Transport Hub, and re-laying expired rail track on the Melba, Fingal and Derwent Valley Lines ($240 million);
• Brooker Highway Upgrade Package: Intersection upgrades and forward-planning to address safety and efficiency on two major bottlenecks - Elwick-Goodwood to Howard Road ($32 million), and the Domain Highway Interchange: Investigating options to upgrade the Domain Highway Interchange, and review opportunities to improve efficiency and safety on the highway connecting to the Tasman Bridge ($5M planning - submitted under Innovation);
• Illawarra Main Road Upgrades/South Perth Bypass: Bypass of the constrained eastern section to deliver a high speed, dual-carriageway link that avoids residential areas. Also targeted upgrades to Illawarra Main Road from the proposed bypass, west to the Bass Highway ($142 million);
• Midland Highway - Mangalore to Bagdad upgrades and future Bagdad Bypass: Interim upgrades for improved safety and efficiency on a constrained section of the Midland Highway. Also final planning and land acquisition to support the future Bagdad Bypass ($35 million);
• Midland Highway - Duplication, Perth to Breadalbane: Duplication to meet future capacity needs and address safety issues on the approaches to Launceston, and connecting to the Bell Bay Port and industrial area ($72 million);
• New Bridgewater Bridge Development: Final project development and land acquisition to replace this critical link in the north-south supply chain and support future connectivity between key freight distribution centres in the southern region ($15 million);
• Murchison Highway Upgrades: Upgrades to improve safety and provide a consistent standard for high-productivity vehicles between Cradle Mountain Development Road and Anthony Road, building on a package of improvements already funded by the Tasmanian Government ($34 million);
• Birralee Main Road Upgrades: Improvements to provide a consistent standard for high productivity vehicles on this key inter-regional freight route ($48 million). 

Road Safety, Innovation & Connecting People

The Tasmanian Government's Tasmanian Road Safety Strategy 2007-2016 leads the Government's commitment to improving safety on the road network.

"While it's encouraging that the road toll has fallen to near-record lows, every life is precious, and every loss is one too many," Mr O'Byrne said.

"There's no room for complacency. We continue to invest about $12 million a year from the Road Safety Levy.

"Every project is based on some of the best world research and evidence available. That's why our strategy has been largely effective," he said.  The Tasmanian Government is submitting the following projects under the Safety theme:

• Midland Highway Safety Package: Targeted infrastructure improvements to the Midland Highway between Hobart and Launceston. The Package includes 16 individual safety projects, consistent with priorities identified in the Midland Highway Partnership Agreement 2009. ($128 million);
• Huon Highway / Summerleas Road Intersection Upgrade: Upgrade the high-accident Huon Highway / Summerleas Road junction, south of Hobart. ($22 million);
• Tasman Highway - Tasman Bridge Eastern Approaches Upgrade: staged upgrades to improve access and safety on the eastern approaches to the Tasman Bridge, one of Tasmania's highest volume road sections ($46 million - submitted under Connecting People);
• Tasman Highway/Holyman Avenue Roundabout Upgrade: planning and delivery of improvements to the Holyman Avenue roundabout on the Tasman Highway, the key access to Hobart International Airport, and a major intersection on the Sorell-Hobart growth corridor. ($8 million - submitted under Connecting People).

The Tasmanian Government is submitting the following projects under the Innovation theme:

• Bass Highway (Latrobe to Deloraine) Planning: Identifying priority projects to improve efficiency and safety on the Highway between Latrobe and Deloraine. ($5 million);
• Urban Intelligent Transport Systems, Hobart: Extend variable speed messaging (implemented on the Tasman Highway) to the Brooker Highway and Southern Outlet, along with SMS traveller information and improvements to traffic management systems ($19 million);
• South Arm Highway Planning: Investigate infrastructure and non-infrastructure solutions to improve connectivity and modal choice on the South Arm Highway to Rokeby. ($5 million);
• Tasmanian Freight Model: Develop a statewide freight model to better understand freight movements and the impact of potential policy interventions on the freight network. ($350,000).