Brian Mitchell says the Great Eastern Drive needs urgent attention

A Tasmanian politician has labelled a major tourist road in his electorate “a goat track” that’s in dire need of fixing. DOB IN A POTHOLE THAT NEEDS FIXING >>

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A FEDERAL budget roads package for Tasmania excludes a number of urgent regional upgrades, Labor says.

A big-ticket item for Tasmania in the federal budget will be $187 million to duplicate the Sorell Causeway, as part of a broader $350 million infrastructure package.

However Labor Lyons MHR Brian Mitchell said the roads package overlooked neglected areas such as the Tasman Highway.

“What should be the Great Eastern Drive too often resembles the Great Eastern Goat Track. Narrow, winding lanes with rough and dangerous shoulders and too few opportunities to safely overtake. This highway needs major investment,” Mr Mitchell said.

Lyons MP Brian Mitchell. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

“Now is the perfect time to be investing in a major upgrade of this increasingly busy highway but once again the Liberal government has failed to act.

“I am also disappointed the Government has apparently decided not to proceed with the long-planned Mangalore-Bagdad bypass, a project that would improve safety and free up new land for residential and commercial development just north of fast-growing Brighton. The failure to proceed with the bypass is shortsighted and symptomatic of a Government lacking in vision.”

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