Michael Ferguson,Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
The Tasmanian Government has responded to community feedback about a proposed overpass on the Bass Highway at Leith and will instead pursue other upgrade options to provide safer access to the highway from two existing junctions.
Instead of building a grade-separated overpass, the Bass Highway junctions with Short Street and Braddons Lookout Road will be structurally improved, making it easier and safer for vehicles to enter and exit the highway.
This is a new design, arrived at as a result of feedback and additional expert engineering advice procured by the Department of State Growth.
The new design features a structured separation of right-turning traffic to improve safety at the intersections. This will enable improved visibility for vehicles turning right both on and off the Bass Highway at both intersections and a hard separation for both left and right turning vehicles.
A summary of the consultation outcomes can be viewed online at: www.transport.tas.gov.au/leithsafetyupgrade
We are determined to deliver an upgrade which improves safety – that is a non-negotiable. After the upgrade is completed, the Department of State Growth will closely monitor traffic conditions and safety performance to ensure the risk of crashes is mitigated.
Feedback will be sought on the final designs of the intersection upgrades this quarter.
