A review has shown the speed limit on Tasman Highway too high

A notorious stretch of Tasmanian coastal highway will soon have a lower speed limit after a review of crash data.

THE SPEED limit on a section of notorious East Coast highway – which has seen 20 crashes in just five years – will be permanently reduced.

The change will cover the five-kilometre section of the Tasman Highway through Paradise Gorge, west of Orford.

The current speed limit of 100km/h will be reduced to 80km/h following a review requested by the community, the Department of State Growth said.

It will apply between the large bend in the Prosser River near Black Bridge Gully, and the current 60km/h speed limit at Orford.

PARADISE GORGE OPENS

The speed limit was temporarily lowered to 80km/h after a rockfall prevention project in 2021 closed the stretch for months.

The department said data showed the average speed recorded by motorists through this section of the highway was 75 km/h.

“It is highly unusual for the average speed of 25 km/hr less than the posted speed limit, which further indicates that the existing speed limit needed to be reviewed,” the department said.

“There have been 20 crashes on this section of the Highway in the past five years, of which 90 per cent (or 18) were single vehicle loss-of-control crashes.

“This suggests the vehicle was travelling too fast for that section of road.

“Research tells us that even small reductions in travelling speeds can lead to a reduction in serious casualties.”

New speed limit signs will be installed this month.

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