The federal government is promising millions into Tasmanian roads and transport infrastructure to deliver critical investments in the state.
As part of the upcoming budget, more than $219 million will be invested in the state’s transport infrastructure through a new roads package.
The funding includes $124 million that will go towards road projects such as at Lyell Highway from Granton to New Norfolk, upgrading the Huon Highway Corridor and planning along the Devonport to Cradle Mountain and Arthur Highway Corridors.
Alongside this, a further $95 million has been committed to deliver existing projects in the Mornington Roundabout Upgrade, the Midland Highway to Campbell Town North works and the Algona Road Grade Separated Interchange alongside the Kingston Bypass duplication.
“When residents and visitors move around Tasmania, they move around by road. But after a decade of neglect, many of Tasmania’s roads are not fit for purpose,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says.
“Last year Tasmania lost more than 30 people on the roads, with more than 300 critically injured. That’s not good enough.
“This investment in our budget is about getting Tasmania moving safely to allow people to spend less time on the road and more time with their loved ones.”
As part of the works, the Lyell Highway will be upgraded to boost safety, lower travel times and improve tourism access, while the Mornington Roundabout pinch point will see congestion eased and safety prioritised through the funded works.
Federal transport minister Catherine King says the planning projects along these key Tasmanian corridors will lay the ground work for a pipeline of future investments.
“We are working for all Australians to deliver significant infrastructure that connects communities, stimulates jobs and builds the future of our nation.
“The hard work we undertook to clean up the mess in the infrastructure pipeline means there is room to deal with ongoing cost pressures and plan for future projects,” King says.
“I thank the Tasmanian government for working closely with us to ensure the delivery of these projects.”
The funding builds on the federal government’s existing investments of more than $2 billion to deliver 35 road and rail projects.