Michael Ferguson,Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
Claire Chandler,Liberal Senator for Tasmania
The State and Federal Governments are working together to deliver better and safer roads across Tasmania.
A prime example of this is an intersection near Cressy where road safety has been improved under a jointly funded program.
A right turn lane has been constructed for southbound vehicles to turn safely off Poatina Main Road into Green Rises Road, just north of Cressy.
The lane will reduce the potential for vehicles to be hit from behind while waiting to turn right.
The Cressy project follows rehabilitation works to strengthen and improve the condition of the road surface in 2020. The intersection has previously been the scene of crashes involving vehicles turning right into Green Rises Road.
The project is one of the first four intersection upgrades started under the Australian Government's Road Safety Program, announced at the end of 2020.
Under the program, the Australian Government has committed $44 million for road safety projects in Tasmania. The Tasmanian Government has contributed a further $12 million to the program.
The installation of a right turn lane at the intersection of Tasman Highway and Lake Leake Road north of Swansea has also been completed. Construction of right turn lanes at the intersections of Tasman Highway and Upper Scamander Road in Scamander; and Colebrook Road and Tea Tree Road south of Campania are nearing completion.
Liberal Senator for Tasmania, Claire Chandler, said Tasmanian drivers are benefiting from the Morrison Government's investment in improving Tasmania's road infrastructure.
"The Morrison Government's $44 million commitment to improving the safety of rural and regional roads is all about working with the Tasmanian Government to provide safety upgrades exactly like this one," Senator Chandler said.
"The addition of a turning lane at this intersection reduces the risk of accidents for both locals and tourists."
Further projects are planned, following these first four priority projects. Future projects include safety upgrades at intersections and shoulder sealing.
Shoulder sealing can be expected to deliver a 30 percent reduction in head-on and loss-of-control crashes, which currently make up about two-thirds of all serious casualty crashes in Tasmania.
Please see link to footage of the Cressy project https://www.dropbox.com/sh/46o6offh6h6p0e6/AACkwbLTS9pHXfjEHX383gNCa?dl=0
