State government urged to build Channel Highway pedestrian bridge ‘as a matter of urgency’

An overpass for pedestrians and cyclists must be built over the Channel Highway at Kingston as “a matter of urgency”, the Tasmanian government has been warned.

Kingston Bypass. Picture: Department of State Growth

A pedestrian bridge proposed for the Channel Highway must be built “as a matter of urgency”, a parliamentary committee has said, as it pressures the state government to commit funding for the $4m project as part of a major upgrade of road infrastructure south of Kingston.

The overpass would service an area of rapid residential growth and extend from Huntingfield Ave to Hollyhock Drive, which is located in the Whitewater Park Estate.

It is intended to be a component of the $76.4m duplication of the Kingston Bypass and Algona Rd roundabout upgrade project but it’s now been revealed that the government has not budgeted for the construction of the pedestrian bridge.

Kingston Bypass, Algona Rd roundabout

The designs for the bypass duplication and roundabout upgrade were altered to include the overpass following community consultation, replacing a proposed shared path underpass.

But a Department of State Growth spokesman said this would require additional funding.

In a report produced by state parliament’s Public Works Committee, the government has been warned that the “potential benefits of increased active transport and use of public transport will not be realised” if the overpass isn’t built on the busy stretch of highway, which connects the Channel region to Kingston.

“The committee therefore strongly recommends the Tasmanian government commit the additional funding required, so the Channel Highway pedestrian overpass can be constructed as part of the Kingston Bypass duplication and Algona Road roundabout upgrade, as a matter of urgency,” committee chair Tania Rattray MLC said.

Diagram of final design of Kingston Bypass and Algona Rd roundabout upgrade. Picture: Department of State Growth

At its meeting on Monday evening, the Kingborough Council asked its chief executive, Dave Stewart, to write to Infrastructure Minister Kerry Vincent and request that the funding for the overpass be delivered and the structure be built in the “early stages” of the overall project.

Councillor David Bain, who moved the motion, said residents of the more than 600 homes in the Springfarm and Whitewater Park estates did not currently have any buses directly servicing their area and would benefit from pedestrian access to the Huntingfield park and ride facility.

“I imagine there’s going to be a lot of roadworks going on … so offering an alternative for people to get across the Channel Highway without driving a car while the roadworks are going on would be very beneficial,” he said.

Kingborough Mayor Paula Wriedt committed to “put the case very, very strongly” for the overpass to be built as soon as possible.

Kingborough Mayor Paula Wriedt. Picture: Kingborough Council.

“I can only assume it was done as a cost-saving measure, because the costs have blown out as the timeline has dragged out – and that is very, very disappointing,” she said.

Construction is expected to begin on the bypass duplication and roundabout upgrade in 2025, pending environmental approvals, and will take about two years to complete.

“A timeline on individual elements will be finalised once a contract is awarded,” a State Growth spokesman said.