Problems with a road upgrade on the Tasman Highway added $50,000 to the cost of the project

Problems with a road upgrade on the Tasman Highway added $50,000 to the project and a regular long-haul driver says it’s not the only example of sub-par works.

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THE repeated laying and digging up of bitumen on a section of the Tasman Highway has been put up as an example of “shoddy” roadworks adding big bucks to the cost of projects and causing driver frustration.

A recent RACT survey dubbed the Tasman Highway – which connects Hobart and Launceston via the East Coast – the worst road in Tasmania and deemed in urgent need of upgrade.

But the quality of the repairs being carried out on that stretch – and many on other recent road upgrades across the state – is being questioned by road users.

In response to the RACT survey, Premier Peter Gutwein said $24 billion would be spent on Tasmania’s roads over the next four years. But if the works need to be redone that cost will climb.

Bicheno’s Rob McGee says the roadworks at the Coles Bay turn-off of the Tasman Highway at Bicheno were a prime example of what he had seen as he travels from Bicheno to Strahan each week for work.

“The initial sign for the roadworks at the turn-off two years ago touted it as a $300,000 project. But it has been laid and dug up three times since then. What a waste of funds,” Mr McGee said.

Roadworks on the Turn-off to Coles Bay on the Tasman Highway

The Department of State Growth said improvements to the Coles Bay Rd turn-off on the Tasman Highway were completed in mid-2020, at a total cost of $364,761.

“Recently, our contractors identified issues with the base of a section of the old road next to the newly upgraded area, which led to failure of the road surface where the old and new sections join,” a spokesman said.

“The old section of road was not part of recent improvements. The repairs will be completed by March 2021 at a cost of approximately $50,000.

“The Department always aims to build road projects to the highest standard, with materials used by contractors subject to strict quality requirements laid down by the Department, however, issues sometimes occur.

“When this does happen, problems are rectified as soon as possible, without compromising the safety of road users.”

Mr McGee said the push to upgrade Tasmania’s roads was admirable but the low standard of some of the works the major concern.

“Another example of this shoddy work is the upgrading of the ‘S bends’ on the road near Bicheno where the bitumen started to break up just three days after being laid,” he said.

“The story is repeated all over the state with potholes forming in newly laid bitumen within days and works needing to be redone.”