The State Government is calling for tenders for the multi-million-dollar upgrade of the West Tamar Highway near Brady's Lookout in the State's north.

 

The Minister for Infrastructure, David O'Byrne, said today that the project, worth around $9 million, was part of the State Government's $90 million Community Roads Program to a section of the road along the West Tamar Highway near Bradys Lookout.

 

"The work will include widening of the road to provide a 1.8m painted median fitted with a flexible safety barrier separating the northbound and southbound lanes for approximately 3 kms," Mr O'Byrne said.

 

"Breaks in the flexible safety barrier and right turn treatments will be provided in two locations - access to Bradys Lookout and the Bradys Lookout Road Junction."

 

Mr O'Byrne said that the aim of this project was to improve safety by preventing head-on crashes and reducing the severity of loss of control crashes.

 

"The installation of flexible safety barriers is a key initiative under our Tasmanian Road Safety Strategy," Mr O'Byrne said.

 

"Research shows that the use of flexible safety barrier has the ability to achieve up to 90 percent reduction in serious road trauma caused by head-on and run-off road crashes.

 

 

"The project will provide the safest option for Bradys Lookout area, providing a safer, more consistent road which will reduce collision rates.

 

"In recent years the State Government has invested nearly $20 million upgrading the highway, and this latest project will bring the total investment in the highway to about $29 million over a 10-year period."

 

Tenders will close on Wednesday 11 July 2012.

 

Works are scheduled to commence in October this year.

 

For more information go to www.tenders.tas.gov.au