The Tasmanian Liberal Government is delivering for all Tasmanians as we continue to strengthen our economy by building the infrastructure that our growing State needs.
Funding for roads and bridges in the 2022-23 Budget and forward estimates will increase to a massive $2.7 billion (up from $2 billion last year).
This huge funding boost includes the largest transport infrastructure project in Tasmanian history – the $786 million new Bridgewater Bridge – co-funded by the Tasmanian and Australian Governments.
Other co-funded major projects include:
The co-funding represents an unprecedented investment in Tasmania’s road and bridge infrastructure following a record $317 million investment in 2020-21 and a new record spend to be out the door in the current financial year.
The Liberal Government’s expenditure in 2020-21 alone was 245 per cent more than the last full year of the former Labor-Green Government just eight years before.
Bridgewater Bridge ($786m)
Construction will begin on the largest transport infrastructure project in Tasmanian history – the $786 million new Bridgewater Bridge – early in the new financial year.
It will be delivered over the next three years providing a new four-lane bridge built downstream of the existing Bridgewater Bridge.
The new crossing will reduce congestion and reduce travel times for more than 22,000 people that use it every day.
Two new interchanges at Bridgewater and Granton, each the equivalent to the Hobart Airport interchange, will improve connections between the Brooker, Lyell and Midland Highways and a dedicated shared path will ensure cyclists and pedestrians can safely cross the river.
Construction will support around 830 jobs, including the creation of more than 200 new jobs for Tasmanians, delivering an important economic boost to the local economy.
The new bridge will be open to traffic in 2024.
South-East Traffic Solution ($349.5m)
The South East Traffic Solution consists of:
When complete by 2025, the Tasman Highway will be upgraded to four lanes between Sorell and Hobart.
This is an unprecedented commitment to the fast-growing Sorell local government area including Sorell, Midway Point and the Southern Beaches’ satellite communities of Lewisham, Dodges Ferry, Primrose Sands and Carlton Beach.
The Sorell area has one of the highest population growth rates in Tasmania at 1.7 per cent a year, nearly three times the Tasmanian rate and it is projected that the population will increase by more than 40 per cent in the next 14 years (to 2036).
During morning and afternoon peak hours, the Tasman Highway at Midway Point and the causeways are at capacity and having a major impact on commuters travel time reliability. Further pressure on the local network is generated by strong growth in tourist traffic with Sorell at the junction of the Tasman and Arthur Highways and through-traffic generated from the Great Eastern Drive to the North, the Hobart International Airport to the west and Port Arthur and the Tasman Peninsula from the South-east.
The South East Traffic Solution had a massive boost last year, with Tasmanian and Australian Governments jointly committing $187 million to the duplication of both the Midway Point and Sorell causeways thus completing the four lane upgrade between Sorell and Hobart.
Greater Hobart Traffic Solution ($204.8m)
The Greater Hobart Traffic Solution commits $204.8 million in funding for short and long-term transport initiatives to manage peak commuter demand in the Hobart area.
The Greater Hobart Traffic Solution implements key aspects of Infrastructure Tasmania’s Hobart Transport Vision and the Hobart City Deal through a number of initiatives.
Many of our congestion-busting initiatives were included in the policies we took to the 2018 election – policies that we were elected to implement by the Tasmanian people.
It is widely agreed that the Southern Outlet is at capacity in morning and afternoon peaks and, unlike Labor, this Government has a plan to ease this congestion.
The Government will add lane capacity to the Southern Outlet and Macquarie Street as well as dedicated bus lanes, together with peak time clearways on Macquarie and Davey Streets while incentivising public transport and higher occupancy vehicle transport.
This complements the work already underway with park and rides in Kingston, 70 extra bus services per day and upgrades at the Algona intersection and duplicating the Kingston bypass.
A new bus transit centre in central Hobart forms a central part of the Greater Hobart transport package under the Hobart City Deal.
Funds will also be provided for new shared pathways on the Tasman Bridge, enabling safer and easier access for pedestrians and cyclists.
More Media Releases from Michael Ferguson
More Media Releases from the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport