Sixteen kilometres of Tasmania’s Midland Highway around St Peters Pass will be upgraded with tenders open to deliver two packages of works.
The two sections of safety improvements involved building wider lanes and shoulders and installing a central flexible safety barrier to prevent head-on collisions, and are part of state’s $500 million 10-Year Action Plan to fix the Midland Highway.
Tasmanian Minister for Infrastructure Rene Hidding said the first project would extend over five kilometres from York Plains to St Peters Pass Rest Area.
“The second project, from St Peters Pass to south of Tunbridge, will improve an 11-kilometre stretch north of the St Peters Pass rest area and will join up to the previously completed works south of Tunbridge,” said Mr. Hidding.
“These works are resulting in increased safety for motorists, while also creating jobs for Tasmanians with numerous flow-on benefits for local businesses.”
Senator for Tasmania Jonathon Duniam said new overtaking lanes would also be built in both directions north of the St Peters Pass rest area, together with turning facilities suitable for heavy vehicles on both sections.
“The projects around St Peters Pass are part of the next tranche of works due to get underway this summer, which also includes projects at Epping Forest, Mangalore to Bagdad (Stage 2) and the Perth Link Roads at the northern end of the highway,” said Senator Duniam.
“Ten projects in the 10 Year Action Plan have already been completed, and works are continuing through the winter at White Lagoon (Tunbridge) to Mona Vale, Symmons Plains to south of Perth, and the Perth to Breadalbane duplication.”
Separate tenders for both projects are open until 27 September 2017.