Denison Canal Traffic Barrier Upgrade
About the Project
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The State Government is upgrading the traffic barriers on the Denison Canal Bridge with work expected to begin in June 2009. The installation of automated traffic barriers will streamline bridge operations and improve traffic flow by reducing traffic delays when the bridge is closed to allow passage of vessels through the Denison Canal. This upgrade offers the opportunity for the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources (DIER) to work in partnership with the Department of Primary Industries and Water's (DPIW) Save the Tasmanian Devil Program. It is known that Tasmanian devils move across the bridge in late evening or early morning. The automated traffic barrier located on the hotel side of the bridge has been designed to operate at these times to restrict the movement of devils across the bridge. Traffic volumes on the Arthur Highway during this period are low and vehicles approaching the bridge will activate advance sensors to automatically open the traffic barrier.
Features of the Project include:
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Safety components of the Project include:
- Provision of footpaths and additional fences for improved pedestrian access
- Key release to disengage the traffic barriers from the motor which enables manual override if necessary
- Electronic safety devices to ensure barriers stop moving when contacted
- Street lighting enabling the closed gates to be clearly seen
The traffic barriers will feature devil control measures including:
- Closely spaced vertical bars to prevent devils from climbing and squeezing between them
- Sheet metal capping on surrounding fences to make climbing difficult
Project Drivers and Benefits
The project will provide:
- Efficiency and reliability
- Safety - for both the public and contractors
- Support of DPIW's Save the Tasmanian Devil Program
How will the barriers work?
Standard Operation
There will be no change to the operation of the traffic barriers during the day. The automated traffic barriers are expected to streamline bridge operations and traffic flow and to improve operator safety when the bridge is closed to allow vessels to pass through Denison Canal.
Out Of Hours Operation
As a component of DPIW's Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, the traffic barrier on the hotel side of the bridge will be closed in the late evening and early morning, opening automatically when vehicles approach.
Further Information
For further information about the project, please contact Jim Platt at DIER on (03) 6233 8673 or jim.platt@dier.tas.gov.au or download the following:
- Denison Canal Traffic Barrier Upgrade - Flyer, (PDF, 2.4MB)
- Denison Canal Traffic Barrier Upgrade - Poster, (PDF, 4.5MB)
For further information with regard to DPIW?s Save the Tasmanian Devil Program go to
www.tassiedevil.com.au.
