Improvements to key Hobart roads to start

Members,

The Rockliff Liberal Government is doing what matters for all Tasmanians and building safer and more efficient roads right around Tasmania.

Work will start on Monday, 29th January 2024 to improve Macquarie and Davey streets in Hobart for buses, motor vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.

Infrastructure and Transport Minister Michael Ferguson said a $1.85 million contract had been awarded to Tasmanian company BlackCap Construction.

“The project continues the delivery of the Tasmanian Government’s Southern Projects which will improve transport between Hobart’s CBD and its southern suburbs,” Mr Ferguson said.

“This includes making bus travel more attractive with an easier to access service and with more reliable travel times all the way from Huntingfield to Hobart,” he said.

The work includes new and improved bus stops, removing parking to improve access for buses and cyclists, and installing new pedestrian crossings.

“This project will also allow the planned T3 Southern Outlet Transit Lane to connect to an extended peak period clearway on Macquarie Street,” he said.

“Work will start with extending the current Denison Lane to Molle Street clearway to Gore Street so it can be used as an extra dedicated left turning lane during peak times. The clearway will operate Monday to Friday from 6:30am to 9:30am and from 3:00pm to 6:00pm.

“This work requires removing some parking on both sides of Macquarie Street and providing new line-marking.

“Other improvements to follow in Macquarie Street include building right turning lanes in Barrack Street and Murray Street and improved pedestrian crossings at Molle Street, Barrack Street and Harrington Street.

“The Davey Street improvements will include construction of a separated bicycle lane between Sandy Bay Road and Barrack Street,” he said.

Mr Ferguson said minimising disruption was a major focus, which was why most of the work will be done at night from 6:30 pm to 6:30 am. The work should be completed by mid-year.

Tenders for an additional lane to remove the bottleneck between Davey and Macquarie streets and connect the transit lane with Macquarie Street closed on 17 January, with construction to start in the coming months.

Construction of the transit lane itself is scheduled to start in 2025.

/Public Release. View in full here.