Dorset upgrades make for safer road trips this holiday season

Michael Ferguson, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport

The Rockliff Liberal Goverment is working hard to make Tasmanian roads safer and more efficient.

Motorists travelling through the state’s north-east this holiday season will have a safer journey with works completed on several Tasman Highway upgrades.

The upgrades between Branxholm and Scottsdale – part of the Tasmanian Government’s $4 million Dorset Roads Package – include two slow vehicle turnouts and a dedicated right turn lane from the highway into Carisbrook Lane.

Infrastructure and Transport Minister Michael Ferguson said the works improve the safety and efficiency of this important north-east transport link.

“The Tasman Highway is the main way of getting goods into the region and taking the area’s production to their markets, as well as providing access for tourists,” Mr Ferguson said.

“The section of the highway between Branxholm and Scottsdale carries nearly 1500 vehicles a day, 18.4 percent of them heavy vehicles.

“The new turnouts, east of Jensens Road at Rocky Gully for eastbound traffic and west of Snake Track at Billycock Hill for westbound traffic, will improve traffic flow by providing an opportunity for slow-moving vehicles to move over and allow those following to pass.

“In addition to the turnouts, the new right turn lane at Carisbrook Lane near Legerwood will improve safety at this intersection by allowing turning vehicles to move out of the way of through traffic.

“Work on these upgrades has been completed on time and budget.”

Work on the slow vehicle turnouts started in April and the Carisbrook Lane intersection upgrade started in August.

/Public Release. View in full here.