Tasmania calls tenders for Bass Highway Upgrade

Australia’s Tasmanian Government has called for tenders to carry out road safety improvement works on the Bass Highway, a major passenger and freight route in the state.

For this road safety upgrade, the Australian and Tasmanian Governments will respectively provide up to A$7.7m ($5.6m) and A$1.9m ($1.3m).

This section of highway is currently a single lane and connects two divided dual carriageway sections between Hagley and Westbury and the upgrade of the highway from single carriageway to dual carriageway will reduce confusion by providing a consistent road environment.

“By eliminating head-on crashes and the risk of accidents, local emergency services will be able to allocate their resources elsewhere.”

Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said: “The Australian and Tasmanian Governments were funding the upgrade west of Westbury, between the Birralee Main Road overpass and Exton.”

Scope of work under the project will include building a 3.2km dual carriageway, including the installation of flexible safety barriers as well as upgrading the highway to a minimum AusRap 3 star safety standard.

Construction under the project is scheduled to start in October and works are expected to be completed by May next year.

Tasmania federal member for Lyons Eric Hutchinson said: “Improvements to road safety will pay dividends for residents and small towns.

“By eliminating head-on crashes and the risk of accidents, local emergency services will be able to allocate their resources elsewhere.”

As part of the project, construction of the additional traffic lanes will occur alongside the existing highway and motorists are advised to take note of the revised speed restrictions and altered traffic conditions.

Tenders for the Bass Highway Upgrade will be closed on 9 September.