Speed limit cut at dangerous Grove intersection where teenager was hit

The speed limit at a stretch of Tasmanian highway will be reduced. This comes after a teenager was seriously injured at a dangerous intersection last month.

Grove intersection on the Huon Highway. Picture: Cas Garvey

The speed limit will be reduced at a dangerous highway intersection where a teenager was seriously injured last month.

The Department of State Growth announced a new 80km/h speed limit would apply to a 2.3km section of the Huon Highway at Grove that is currently a 100km/h zone.

A 17-year-old boy suffered serious injuries after being struck by a car after getting off a school bus near the intersection of Mountain River Road on February 24.

A police investigation into the crash is ongoing.

The scene of the crash had been earmarked in a 2023 Huon Highway Corridor Strategy as an area requiring improvement for both traffic and pedestrians.

Locals have been asking for safety improvements at the intersection for years. There are currently no pedestrian facilities or traffic signals

The state government has fast-tracked $3m to improve safety in the area.

Minister for Transport Eric Abetz. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“We have been doing planning work in the Huon Valley for some time,” the Department of State Growth said.

“We released our Huon Highway corridor strategy in 2023 which identified this intersection as one of concern to the community, and we have also been monitoring the traffic and safety in the area for many years.

“We now have funding to progress upgrades and are working on a number of potential options.”

The Commissioner for Transport on Tuesday announced a reduced speed limit on the Huon Highway between Pages Road and Mountain River Road.

“The speed limit was reviewed due to increasing community concern over pedestrian safety issues at the Mountain River Road intersection, particularly at the bus stop along the Huon Highway,” the Department of State Growth said in a statement.

“A lower speed limit along this section of road is expected to reduce the number and severity of crashes.

“This is supported by a before-and-after analysis of other Tasmanian rural roads where reduced speed limits have decreased the number of crashes by around 40 per cent.

“A reduced speed limit will give drivers more time to react and avoid potential crashes, particularly when pedestrians are crossing the road.

“It will also give pedestrians more time to safely cross the road.”

Minister for Transport Eric Abetz welcomed the announcement.

“The lower speed limit will give people more time to safely cross the road and provide more time for drivers to react and avoid potential crashes,” Minister Abetz said.

“I understand the new speed limit will be in effect in the coming weeks, once the signs have been installed.”

Infrastructure Minister Kerry Vincent. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

And Minister for Infrastructure Kerry Vincent said work was also progressing on plans to improve the safety of the intersection for all users, whether they walk, ride or drive.

“We are fast-tracking the design, construction and community consultation of this important project,” Minister Vincent said.

The changed speed limit will come into effect once the new speed limit signs have been installed. It will add around 20 seconds to travel times.

In 2019, the government was forced to rip out and replace safety barriers on a nearby section of the highway after works to install a right turn lane for a local tourist venue.

The upgrade created a pinch point that left cyclists with just 30cm of space between the traffic lane and safety barriers in the 100km/h zone.

Originally published as Speed limit cut at dangerous Grove intersection where teenager was hit