Works now complete on major Bass Highway section

Upgrade works on a major section of the Bass Highway in Tasmania have now wrapped up.

The upgrades to the section, between Somerset and Wynyard, aimed to increase the safety of the connection by removing a number of ‘sharp’ turns.

The upgrade works included new overtaking lanes in each direction to improve safety and traffic flow. A central median flexible safety barrier has also been constructed, designed to prevent head-on collisions and reduce the number of crashes resulting in fatalities and serious injuries.

This project forms part of a variety of realignment works on the Bass Highway, with additional works already underway between Cooee and Marrawah. These works include making junctions safer, road widening and construction of more overtaking lanes.

Hazell Bros Group, a Tasmanian contractor, designed and delivered the realignment of 3.6 kilometres of the highway.

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Tasmanian Infrastructure and Transport Minister Michael Ferguson said the Tasmanian Government was pleased to be working with the Federal Government on the project.

“The completion of these works marks a key step in our plan to upgrade the Bass Highway, which is a key link across major population centres, transport hubs and agricultural regions across the North and North-West of Tasmania,” Ferguson said.

The replacement of the Cam River Bridge at Somerset is underway, while a corridor strategy has been developed for the section of the highway between Launceston and Devonport, with a list of potential safety upgrades currently now prioritised following community feedback in 2022.

A planning study is also underway for improvements to the Bass Highway between Cooee and Wynyard.