The Tasmanian Liberal Government is getting on with the job and building Tasmania's future by delivering safer roads for the people who use them.
The Tasmanian Government recognises how important the Bass Highway is for freight, tourism and moving Tasmanians between the far north west of Tasmania through Burnie and Devonport, and on to Launceston and Hobart.
Premier Rockliff and the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport today visited the recently completed Monateric Road Project, as part of the $280 million Federal-State commitment to upgrade the Bass Highway between Marrawah and Launceston.
The Monateric Road Project – one of five priority projects recently completed - has delivered new east-bound and west-bound overtaking lanes at Wiltshire, enabling the safe passing of slow-moving vehicles in either direction.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said that everywhere you look the Tasmanian Government is building roads for the future.
"I don't think you could find a single Tasmanian out there who could argue that we aren't investing in road infrastructure across Tasmania," the Premier said.
"The Bass Highway is the artery connecting the communities of the West Coast and North West to the rest of the state, which is why we are investing record funding into road upgrades."
As part of the major works program, nine projects were delivered in 2021-22, including:
- Junction improvements to Gates Road;
- Realignment of Myalla Road junction;
- Two overtaking lanes near Dallas Road and Monateric Road; and
- Junction improvements at Mella Road and Dunn Street.
The upgrades not only reduce the potential risk for crashes, but they improve travel time, and support growth by providing a quality transport corridor for the thousands of cars travelling the road every day.
A further three projects will be completed by the end of 2023/early 2024:
- An overtaking lane near Morris Road;
- Widening of the Highway at Togari; and
- Completion of the Tollymore Road Project.
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Michael Ferguson said the Monateric Road Project is yet another visible example of how the Tasmanian Liberal Government is connecting communities, improving safety while creating jobs and supporting the economy.
"Under our Government, funding for roads and bridges in the 2022-23 Budget and forward estimates will increase to a massive $2.7 billion.
"The Tasmanian Liberal Government's expenditure in 2020-21 alone was 245 per cent more than the last full year of the former Labor-Green Government and there's plenty more coming in the future, with five high priority projects to be advertised this year.
"I look forward to coming here again to view progress with these other upcoming projects, which will truly transform the way in which people and goods move across this region,"
