Action, not more words, needed on Hobart’s traffic woes

DAVID KILLICK: If there was ever a sign something needs to be done urgently about Hobart’s traffic problems, it was the queue of brakelights lined up for kilometres on the Southern Outlet

If there was ever a sign something needs to be done urgently about Hobart’s traffic problems, it was the queue of brake lights lined up for kilometres on the Southern Outlet this morning.

How does a minor accident turn a 30 minute commute into a 90-minute nightmare?

Through years of ponderous progress on alternatives, that’s how.

Commuters grind to a halt on Southern Outlet after a crash blocks traffic. Picture: DAVID KILLICK

The root of today’s gridlock lies in the repeated failure of governments to improve infrastructure for both private and public transport.

The fifth lane and the promised rapid response units might have helped ease today’s traffic — had either made it off the drawing board.

What changes have been made in Macquarie and Davey streets since the state government took them over?

So too would measures to get people out of their cars. Public transport from Kingborough and the Huon remains woefully inadequate. And what has become of the wildly popular ferry proposal?

A Kombi van rolls on the Southern Outlet near Kingston in February, 2019. Picture: DAVID TIDDY

The Southern Outlet is 50 years old, and it shows. The last useful improvement were the bus lanes installed about three premiers ago. The Mt Nelson sliplanes appear to have only made things worse most mornings.

Michael Ferguson was sworn in this morning as Minister for State Growth. This is his problem now.

The government has talked a big game on fixing traffic. It’s time for action to match the words.