Residents of Crayfish Creek in Tasmania’s north now have improved access at the Bass Highway junction with Dunn Street following the completion of road upgrades.
The works included installing a left turn lane off the highway onto Dunn Street to improve safety by allowing vehicles to move out of traffic while slowing down to turn.
It also gives drivers a better view of approaching traffic when entering the highway and helps ease congestion of through traffic, as motorists are no longer impacted by vehicles slowing down to enter Dunn Street.
Other work completed as part of this project includes improved drainage, signage and line-marking as well as an upgraded bus stop.
The works are part of the $280 million Bass Highway Action Plan, jointly funded by the Australian and Tasmanian governments. The Australian Government committed $60 million to the $100 million Bass Highway – Marrawah to Wynyard Upgrade project with the Tasmanian Government contributing $40 million.
The Dunn Street junction upgrade is one of many projects completed, underway and planned for the Wynyard to Marrawah section of the highway.
Works completed along this 110-kilometre section of the highway have included new overtaking lanes, junction upgrades, realignment of the highway in places to improve safety, road widening and resurfacing.
So far, 10 projects including Dunn Street have been completed on the Wynyard to Marrawah section of the highway.
Another project involving a junction upgrade and highway realignment between Tollymore Road and Baulds Road in Table Cape is expected to be completed early next year.
Quotes attributable to Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:
“The Australian Government is committed to delivering road safety upgrades like these to mitigate road crashes, as we continue to work to achieve Vision Zero – no deaths on our roads by 2050.
“This project is just another example of what can be achieved when federal and state governments work together to improve safety for all road users and I’m pleased to see this upgrade complete.”
Quotes attributable to Tasmanian Infrastructure and Transport Minister Michael Ferguson:
“The Bass Highway upgrades at Dunn Street have been delivered in direct response to the needs of the local community.
“We listened to their concerns about the challenges of entering and leaving the highway at this junction and responded by installing a left turn lane, improved drainage, signage and line-marking and an upgraded bus stop.
“The completion is another step in our plan to upgrade the Bass Highway, which is a key link across major population centres, transport hubs and agricultural regions across our State.”
Quotes attributable to Tasmanian Senator Anne Urquhart:
“These safety works are a huge boost for the local community and will help drive down road traffic crashes at this busy intersection.
“Residents in north west Tasmania will now be able to travel along the Bass Highway more efficiently and more importantly, safely, with better visibility at Dunn Street – which has been a notorious crash site in the past.
“This is just another example of how we are delivering vital infrastructure projects to create a safer road network right across Tasmania.”
