Hobart needs an immediate and united approach to fix traffic problems, says RACT

TRAFFIC meltdowns in Hobart are just one incident away, a motoring body has warned.

THE RACT will call for a tripartite approach to tackle Hobart’s traffic chaos after motorists experienced the city’s worst congestion in years this week.

Traffic came to a standstill on Wednesday afternoon as a combination of more cars, wild weather and roadworks choked the city’s main arteries.

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“It is probably the biggest traffic congestion issue that we have seen in recent years,” the RACT’s Stacey Pennicott said.

“It was widespread and it went on for a long time.”

Traffic banked up near the corner of Davey and Elizabeth streets. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

The motoring association says Hobart’s roads have reached capacity and urgent measures, such as clearways and traffic light synchronisation, are needed immediately.

“Our road infrastructure in Hobart is at capacity on a normal day and just one incident from now will actually cause that traffic gridlock,” Ms Pennicott said.

Stacey Pennicott, from the RACT. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

Roadworks on suburban Mellifont St at West Hobart had been enough to throw a major spanner into peak hour traffic, she said.

An average of 70,000 cars cross the Tasman Bridge each day, 54,000 use the Brooker Highway and 37,000 drive on the Southern Outlet.

Just 5 per cent of people in Greater Hobart travel to work by public transport.

Traffic emerged as a major issue during last year’s Pembroke by-election and the major parties have targeted it again ahead of the March 3 state poll.

The Liberals’ solutions range from a takeover of Davey and Macquarie streets to an underground bus mall and Sorell causeway duplication that would both cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

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Labor is also promising clearways and a more integrated public transport system through its $60 million policy.

Both parties have pledged more frequent bus services from commuter suburbs like Sorell and Kingston, while backing light rail and ferries that could be part of a City Deal funding agreement with the Federal Government.

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The RACT says changes on Macquarie and Davey streets should have happened 18 months ago, and is calling on parties to get together to formulate a long-term strategy.

“We want to see a strategy, we want to see it funded and we want to see it signed off by all the parties,” Ms Pennicott said.

“Rather than tossing around ideas, let’s actually get in and do the real work.”

Two of the three vehicles involved in a crash on the corner of Davey and Antill streets, which led to massive traffic delays. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

Two cars were overturned in separate incidents on a wild Wednesday afternoon.

Tasmania Police’s Acting Inspector Justin Lawson said officers had done their best to keep traffic moving.

Acting Inspector Justin Lawson. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

“But in a circumstance where a vehicle is on its roof we aren’t in a position to just right it and push it off the road,” he said. “It was fairly chaotic.”

Road Safety Advisory Council chairman Garry Bailey said infrastructure was only part of the problem.

“These are not accidents — they are avoidable if common sense, patience and courtesy prevail,” he said.

“Drivers intent on shaving seconds off their travel time by exceeding the 50km/h limit, switching lanes, blocking intersections, travelling too close to the vehicle in front, and in some cases running red lights, are causing these delays.”

A Department of State Growth spokeswoman said improvements to traffic signals, junctions and technology to communicate travel information to commuters were under way.

The department is also undertaking a review of public transport.

Experts call to get a move on

LIGHT rail, affordable homes, essential services and community spaces along the Hobart-Northern Suburbs rail corridor would help ease the capital’s housing, rental and traffic crises, urban renewal experts say.

At Hobart’s Town Hall a panel of urban renewal experts spoke about how a City Deal and light rail project could solve Hobart’s traffic problems and housing issues.

The panel included Tasmanian land use planner Emma Riley, LUTI Consulting’s urban economist James McIntosh, NSW Government City Deals consultant Brendan Leary and NSW Government Communities Plus director Richard Wood.

Ms Riley said there would need to be a balance of services and housing along the corridor.

“It’s about access to day-to-day medical services, even day-to-day convenience goods or retail kind of things,” she said.

But Ms Riley said some of the industrial buildings around Derwent Park would have to be moved.