Road push will improve safety, travel times, Ferguson says
A $15m duplication project on a major highway will improve travel times and safety, part of a suite of traffic busting measures the government was rolling out around Hobart. LATEST >>
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A $15m project to duplicate a section of the East Derwent Highway would cut travel times and improve safety, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Michael Ferguson said.
Inspecting works at Geilston Bay on Tuesday, Mr Ferguson said the work was part of a suite of traffic busting measures the government was rolling out around Hobart.
The major infrastructure spend was also delivering jobs, Mr Ferguson said.
“The project is partly funded through the Tasmanian Government’s $40 million commitment to road and bridge funding under its COVID-19 economic stimulus package,” he said.
“This completes the missing link in the highway and will create a consistent dual carriageway from the Tasman Bridge off ramp at Rose Bay to Grass Tree Hill Road roundabout at Risdon Vale, reducing delays caused by merging traffic, and making journeys safer and travel times more predictable.
“A new concrete, raised central media and safety barrier will reduce the frequency and severity of crashes.
“The dual lanes will also make it easier and safer to turn left into Lindisfarne North Primary School by removing the need for vehicles to merge at the school entry, and lengthening the entry lane into the school.”
The state government has faced criticism for its slow rollout of promised infrastructure spending, with an underspend to $500m last financial year.
And $18.5m of $32.6m of Covid-19 Infrastructure stimulus promised has been spent.
Mr Ferguson said he was thrilled at the uptake of the new River Derwent ferry service on its first day of operation.
“My chest is bursting with pride for the way that the service operated on its first day yesterday, it went without a glitch.
“More than 500 people jumped on the ferry yesterday on its first day.
“I would appreciate that a number of those people might have been curious onlookers wanted to get on there for the first day but my feedback this morning, is around 220 caught the theories on this morning’s runs.”
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