State government is adding a fifth lane to the Southern Outlet to encourage bus travel

Three years of roadworks are about to start around the Southern Outlet, Davey and Macquarie streets, with properties set to be demolished to make way for a fifth lane. See the timeline.

Deputy Premier Michael Ferguson announces the commencement of new mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras on Parliament Lawns in Hobart on Monday, August 21, 2023.

Demolition will begin shortly on three Dynnyrne properties to make way for a fifth lane on the Southern Outlet.

Tenders for the Macquarie/Davey Streets Bus Improvement project will be advertised on Saturday with construction due to start by the end of the year.

The three year project timeline includes:

November: Work to start on the Macquarie and Davey Streets Bus Improvement project with the removal of some parking spaces and changes to parking on both sides of the two streets

Late 2023: construction will start on the extended clearways and cycling improvements on Macquarie and Davey Streets. Due for completion in March

Early 2024: Transit lane Connector construction due to start. This work will mostly take place at night.

April 2024: Preparation works for Transit Lane including rock face protection.

Early 2025: Major Transit Lane construction due to begin.

State Budget 2023. Heavy traffic in bound to Hobart on the Southern Outlet with a fifth lane proposed. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“My department has been working on ways to minimise traffic impacts from construction,” Infrastructure and Transport Minister Michael Ferguson said.

“To do that, we have developed a staging of work, starting from where the traffic is the heaviest in the city and working our way back.

… [The] advice is that this will maximise the flow on the Macquarie and Davey St couplet in the first instance with continued congestion improvement as we work our way back to Olinda Grove.”

He said sections of the work would be completed in smaller stages.

Mr Ferguson said three homes would be demolished in the coming weeks to prepare for works later in the year.

“This summer, we will focus on initial preparation works for the transit lane, construction of the Macquarie and Davey Streets Bus Improvements project and the first element of the Southern Outlet Transit Lane, the Transit Lane Connector between Davey and Macquarie Streets,” he said.

Mr Ferguson said construction of the Southern Projects program would involve roadworks over the next three years, with temporary measures to avoid congestion, particularly during peak periods.

“We will continue to work on ways to reduce the impact of the transit lane construction on traffic flow and will share more information with the community and stakeholders as the project progresses,” Mr Ferguson said.

“As we always do, we thank residents and commuters in advance for their patience and co-operation during these construction projects, as we provide better infrastructure that will provide real relief and incentive for public transport for years into the future.”

Early plans for the Southern Outlet extra lane involved the acquisition of up to 17 properties, prompting anger from affected Dynnyrne residents.

Revised plans reduced the number of homes acquired to three, and all were acquired voluntarily.