Tasman Highway - Great Eastern Drive
We are upgrading the Great Eastern Drive as part of the Road Package to support Tasmania’s Visitor Economy.
This project will improve the driver experience, overall safety, and travel time reliability along sections of the popular Great Eastern Drive, one of Tasmania’s five self-drive touring journeys to encourage visitors and Tasmanians to explore the regional parts of our State.
The project is underway. Some upgrades have been completed, some are being constructed, and some projects are scheduled to start work over the next few years.
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
Work started in early March 2021 and is expected to be completed by the end of December 2021, weather permitting.
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.
Project plans on the proposed road widening and alignment project South of Bicheno were on display to the public in September 2021.
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:
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.
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.
For further information about the project please contact the Project Manager, Stefano Conforti, on 6166 3379 or by email at: info@stategrowth.tas.gov.au