Ryan Posselt says Domain and Brooker Highway is dangerous and needs urgent redesign.

The Hobart City Council on Monday night will consider a motion calling for pressure to put on the state government over a busy Hobart highway interchange. Read why a councillor is worried.

City of Hobart councillor Ryan Posselt wants a dangerous interchange fixed. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

A Hobart city councillor is calling for an urgent redesign of the Domain and Brooker Highway interchange saying it is dangerous and “dysfunctional”.

Ryan Posselt, who is chair of the council’s transport committee, has a motion to be discussed at Monday night’s council meeting authorising the CEO and Lord Mayor to write to the Premier, Transport and Infrastructure Ministers and federal and state MPs seeking investment in the interchange.

“This interchange is the most fragile interchange in the greater Hobart road transport network,” he said.

“Built in the 1950s, this interchange can no longer process the volumes of traffic that use it daily.

“Any regular user of this interchange knows that it is completely dysfunctional and adds unnecessary travel time for commuters, freight and public transport.”

Ryan Posselt. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

As a paramedic, Mr Posselt said the interchange was also the sight of many accidents.

“I have personally attended multiple accidents at this interchange, the crash statistics reinforce my experience that this interchange has a very high frequency of accidents,” he said.

“The motion is brought to council with the intent of raising concerns about this intersection with the relevant state and federal politicians.

“Council can and should lobby the state government of matters of importance to Hobart city, and Greater Hobart.”

Clarence mayor Brendan Blomeley says the highway interchange highlights the need for better transport planning.

“This is a further example of why we desperately need a strategic approach to key road infrastructure in the South,” he said.

“We urgently need to start thinking and planning now for duplication of the Tasman Bridge and its feeder highways, plus the wider regional impacts that, at least on the Eastern Shore, warrant a South-East Region strategic transport priorities plan.”

Clarence mayor Brendan Blomeley. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr Posselt’s motion asks council to lobby the state government to address the congestion and safety risks caused by the Domain Highway interchange with the Brooker Highway as a priority congestion busting project.

“While Council has tried to address congestion where it can, it is essential that the council recognise when projects and infrastructure are the responsibility of other arms of government and when necessary advocate to other levels of government for investment in particular projects,” he said.

“The Domain Highway interchange is one such infrastructure project that is a core responsibility of the state but that the city has recognised is problematic for managing congestion and road safety.

“This motion is prepared with the intent of highlighting the importance of investment in redesign and replacement of specific, critical and aging infrastructure to aid in reducing congestion for all residents and visitors to Great Hobart.”

Mr Posselt said when Queen’s Walk was re-opened after a temporary closure for TasWater, queuing on the Brooker had returned, “representing a safety risk”.

“It also reduces inbound traffic on the Brooker Highway to one lane in afternoon peak, resulting in increased congestion and frustration for drivers.”

Originally published as Ryan Posselt says Domain and Brooker Highway is dangerous and needs urgent redesign.