Tasman Highway - Great Eastern Drive

Dianas Basin to St Helens

We're improving the Tasman Highway between Dianas Basin and St Helens.

The works include road widening, improvements to the condition and alignment of the road, and two new dedicated overtaking facilities (one in each direction).

These upgrades will improve safety for all road users, improve travel time reliability and enhance the driver and visitor experience.

Information about the project was available to view from Monday 10 August to Monday 24 August 2020.

The design plans for the section between Dianas Basin and St Helens were on display to the public in August 2020. You can read a summary of the consultation here: Public Consultation Summary Report - Great Eastern Drive, Basin Creek to St Helens

You can also view the plans here:  Roll Plan - Tasman Highway, Basin Creek to St Helens Upgrade

Timing

Work started in early March 2021 and is expected to be completed by the end of December 2021, weather permitting.

Traffic Changes

Throughout the works there will some temporary traffic changes to ensure the safety of workers and road users.  Lane closures and a reduced speed limit will be in place during work hours, 7.00 am – 6.00 pm, Monday to Friday.

We have asked the community a number of times to identify areas for improvement, highlight any safety concerns and make suggestions about how and where changes could be made.

This information will inform a planning study that will provide the basis for future projects, subject to funding.

Tasman Highway – road widening and alignment south of Bicheno

Project plans on the proposed road widening and alignment project South of Bicheno were on display to the public in September 2021.

Basin Creek to St Helens Point Road

Design plans for the section between Dianas Basin and St Helens were on display to the public in August 2020.

You can read a summary of the consultation process here: Public Consultation Summary Report - Great Eastern Drive, Basin Creek to St Helens Point Road

There are more improvements planned for the Great Eastern Drive, including:

• extension of the Great Eastern Drive to Binalong Bay Road, including upgrades to the road
• shoulder widening south of Bicheno
• further safety improvements as required.

First three stages of works - completed in 2019-20

The first stage of works started in late 2018 and was finished in May 2019.

The second stage started construction on 30 September 2019 and was finished in early 2020.

The third stage of works started in March 2020, and were finished in June 2020.

Works included:

• improvements to the Coles Bay Road Left Turn Junction
• dedicated right turn lanes at Basin Creek and Flagstaff Road.
• installation of a northbound overtaking lane at Cranbrook (north of Glen Gala Road)
• four junction upgrades in the Beaumaris Beach area to:
  • Beaumaris Beach
  • Dark Hollow Creek
  • Freshwater Street
  • Skyline Drive
• Improvements to the pull over area at Four Mile Creek.
• Road widening and safety treatments, at junctions and entries to popular tourism experiences including at:
  • Mariposa Beach
  • Hughes Point Lookout
  • Burgess Street in Bicheno
  • Kelvedon Beach
  • Rocky Hills Road Junction
  • Rocky Hills Turn Out
  • Avalon Junction
  • Ironhouse Brewery access.

Junction upgrades - completed in 2020-21

The following completed package of works are part of the project to improve the driver experience, overall safety, and travel time reliability along sections of the popular Great Eastern Drive.

This stretch of road is one of Tasmania’s five self-drive touring journeys, to encourage visitors and Tasmanians to explore the regional parts of our State.

Works included:

• Rosedale Road turn treatment.
• Freycinet Vineyard turn treatment.
• Spring Vale Vineyard turn treatment.
• East Coast Nature World turn treatment.
• Louisville Road junction.
• Pontypool Road junction.
• Saltworks Road turn treatment.
• Cressy Beach turn treatment.
• Pondering Frog turn treatment.
• Swan River Road turn treatment.
• Raspins Beach junction.
• Piermont turn treatment.