Hobart traffic: Crash brings Southern Outlet to standstill

UPDATE: ‘Unprecedented’ Southern Outlet traffic snarl stretched back 15km, says Kingborough mayor

UPDATE: Today’s traffic snarl on the Southern Outlet affected commuters as far away as Margate, 15 kilometres distant from the initial crash, Kingborough mayor Dean Winter says.

“We had congestion in areas we’ve never seen before. It shouldn’t be the case that a single crash can cause congestion to 15 per cent of greater Hobart,” Mr Winter said.

“The announcement of the real time traffic management system and the stationing of a tow truck on the outlet ready to immediately respond to incidents like the one just experienced are enthusiastically welcomed, but obviously the sooner the initiatives are in place, the better.”

But he said longer term planning must include shifting jobs from the city closer to where people lived.

“The $20 million in the state budget to develop infrastructure in and around Kingston for park and ride and a more significant bus interchange are welcome initiatives in the long-term interests of Kingborough’s workforce.

Over 80 per cent of our workforce commutes into the city every day.

“We’re still of the view that the best way to alleviate congestion issues is to create more employment opportunities here locally and reduce the number of commuters heading to the city.”

EARLIER: THE state’s new infrastructure minister must do a better job fixing traffic snarls than he did with the health system, Labor’s David O’Byrne says.

The Opposition’s roads and infrastructure spokesman said Mr Ferguson should be acting immediately to deliver the Government’s “long-delayed traffic promises” after traffic chaos on the Southern Outlet this morning.

“Mr Ferguson needs to be delivering on promises that the Liberal Government claims will address traffic congestion, in particular the long-delayed commitment to station tow trucks on the Southern Outlet,” Mr O’Byrne said.

“This promise was made a year ago but commuters have seen no action.

TRAFFIC RANT: ACTION NOT WORDS IS NEEDED

“Mr Ferguson was a disaster in the health portfolio and his legacy is a health and hospital system that is in unprecedented crisis and only getting worse.

Mr O’Byrne said the Government had been slow to implement promised fixes for Hobart traffic congestion.

“Where are the tow trucks the former minister Jeremy Rockliff promised and Michael Ferguson must now deliver?

“Why won’t the Government seriously consider installing real-time traffic information signs to keep motorists informed about the traffic conditions ahead?

“People have been bringing ideas on how to address traffic congestion to the Hodgman Government for five years now but not one congestion-busting initiative has been delivered.”

EARLIER: A crash on Hobart’s Southern Outlet has brought traffic to a halt on one of the city’s busiest roads this morning.

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

The appeared to be no injuries in the three-vehicle crash just near the Mt Nelson turn-off heading north into the city. A ute had suffered significant damage in the crash.

One commuter reported traffic being backed up to Kingston and said it had taken 20 minutes to get past the crash site.

An ambulance was on the scene.

Meanwhile, Tasmania Police has warned motorists to avoid Poatina Road in the state’s Central Highlands after a log truck lost its load about 5km from Highland Lakes Rd.