West Tamar Highway Duplication - Freshwater Point Road to Acropolis Drive
We are upgrading the West Tamar Highway between Freshwater Point Road and Acropolis Road, to improve safety and connectivity for all road users.
About the project
We are constructing two additional lanes on the West Tamar Highway between Freshwater Point Road and Acropolis Drive, Legana. Improvements will also be made at the Bridgenorth Road, Freshwater Point Road, and Acropolis Drive intersections.
This project supports the Tasmanian Government’s Launceston and Tamar Valley Traffic Vision, which aims to address traffic congestion and improve safety and travel time reliability on the Launceston and Tamar Valley Road network.
Key features of the design include:
- two lanes in each direction between Freshwater Point Road and Acropolis Drive
- upgrading intersections at Freshwater Point Road and Acropolis Drive
- a new roundabout at Bridgenorth Road
- two new signalised pedestrian crossings
- a new shared pathway along the highway for cyclists and pedestrians
- on-road bike lanes on both sides of the highway
- new bike paths at the Freshwater Point Road, Bridgenorth Road, and Acropolis Drive intersections, for road cyclists to use to negotiate the roundabouts
- removal of parking along the road shoulder along the western, odd-numbered side of the highway between Acropolis Drive and Bridgenorth Road
- changes to parking arrangements outside businesses on the corner of Fulton Street and the West Tamar Highway
- relocation of bus stops along the West Tamar Highway
- a new median retaining wall along West Tamar Highway between Outreach Drive and approximately 50m north of Fulton Street.
Upgrades have already been completed from Acropolis Drive to Bridgenorth Road, including duplication of the existing road, new shared path, pedestrian crossing, and new bus stops to facilitate the new Legana primary school and promote active transport.
Bridgenorth Road to Fulton Street has also been upgraded including a new separated duplication of the existing road, new shared path, and pedestrian crossing to provide safe access the shopping precinct and public transport.
1. Traffic changes
Changes to the Freshwater Point Road Roundabout - November 2025
To enable upgrades to the Freshwater Point Road roundabout, vehicles exiting Freshwater Point Road won’t be able to turn right from early November 2025 until mid-December 2025.
Exeter-bound traffic will need to turn around at the Bridgenorth Road roundabout during this period.
Please follow the speed limit and directions of traffic controllers.
New traffic signals - May 2025
On Friday, 23 May 2025 the new traffic signals and the pedestrian crossing on the West Tamar Highway near the new Legana Primary School were turned on and are now available for use.
Construction has now been completed on the two lanes in each direction between Acropolis Drive and Bridgenorth Road. On Monday, 26 May 2025 all four lanes opened to traffic.
Northbound traffic heading to Legana will need to merge into a single lane before entering the new Bridgenorth roundabout.
‘New lanes now open’ signs are in place to warn road users of the change.
West Tamar Highway traffic change and Fulton Street access - January 2025
From Thursday, 23 January 2025, road users will not be able to turn right into and out of Fulton Street.
Access to Fulton Street when travelling towards Legana on the West Tamar Highway will be via the Freshwater Point Road Roundabout.
2. Timing
Project timing
Work is currently underway on the section from Freshwater Point Road to Fulton Street which includes new southbound lanes and a new roundabout at Freshwater Point Road. This current stage of the project is expected to be completed and operational by late December 2025.
The next stage of the project includes construction of the northbound lanes and the departure north of the Freshwater Point Road roundabout. We expect this stage to be completed in the first half of 2026.
We will be working between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday, and occasionally on Saturday between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. We will let you know if we need to work outside these times.
At times, we may also need to complete work at night. Electronic message boards will be used to advise of upcoming night works.
Work completed
Upgrades have already been completed from Acropolis Drive to Bridgenorth Road, including duplication of the existing road, new shared path, pedestrian crossing, and new bus stops to facilitate the new Legana primary school and promote active transport.
Bridgenorth Road to Fulton Street has also been upgraded, including a new separated duplication of the existing road, new shared path, and pedestrian crossing to provide safe access the shopping precinct and public transport.
3. Community consultation
We consulted on the concept design for the West Tamar Duplication – Freshwater Point to Acropolis Drive in late 2022.
You can read the Consultation Summary Report (April 2023) (PDF 140.6 KB).
4. Map
West Tamar Highway Duplication - Between Freshwater Point Road and Acropolis Drive
Click on the image below to view in full size
5. Funding
The West Tamar Highway Duplication project is funded by the Australian and Tasmanian governments through the Northern Roads package. $420 million has been invested in this package to upgrade the East and West Tamar highways and the Bass Highway.
Related projects
Accessibility
If you would like to find out more information and you have accessibility requirements, please email us, details below.
You can find out more about Transport Services' commitment to accessibility.
Contact
If you have questions, please contact our Stakeholder and Community Engagement Consultants Kristie Giblin on 0488 227 427 or Louella Dwyer on 0491 696 701. Alternatively, you can email Kristie or Louella at westtamarduplication@stategrowth.tas.gov.au