Sorell Southern Bypass

About the project

This project includes a southern bypass of Sorell between the Tasman Highway near Giblin Drive and the Arthur Highway near Nugent Road. The Bypass will allow Southern Beaches and Tasman Peninsula traffic to avoid driving through Sorell to connect with the Arthur Highway.

There will be a roundabout at the Giblin Drive end to facilitate traffic movement to both Sorell and towards the causeway and a roundabout at the Tasman Highway near Nugent Road to facilitate the movement of vehicles into Sorell.

Current status

Construction work commenced in May 2021.

The design for the Sorell Southern Bypass will be two lanes (one in each direction) and will have a speed limit of 80km/hr. Existing property accesses will be maintained.

Construction of the new Eastern Roundabout tie-ins will start on Friday, 8 October 2021.

These works will involve traffic changes and a reduced speed limit as construction of the Eastern Roundabout and tie-ins near Nugent Road on the Arthur Highway begins.

Arthur Highway

Works on the Arthur Highway are located near Nugent Road. Traffic travelling in both directions will be moved onto a newly constructed, dual-lane side track.

Traffic travelling East towards Copping will be moved over to the left, and traffic heading towards Sorell will be moved over to the right as a section of the highway is closed to traffic while the works take place.

Click below to expand the diagram of the Arthur Highway traffic switch.

Timing and traffic impacts

We will be starting work on the Arthur Highway from Friday, 8 October 2021.

We will be working between 7:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday.

The speed limit will be reduced to 40 km/h during working hours and will return to 60 km/h outside these times. Motorists should allow up to five minutes extra travel time during this work.

These changes will remain in place from 11 October 2021 until the new Eastern Roundabout and tie-ins are complete in early 2022, weather permitting.

The work will involve the use of machinery which generates some noise and dust. We will make every effort to minimise noise by turning off machinery and vehicles when not in use, and water carts will be used to suppress dust.

Traffic management will be in place to ensure the safety of workers and road users and will be designed to minimise impacts on traffic.

Please keep to speed limits and follow the directions of traffic controllers and signs.

Tasman Highway

We will be starting work on the Tasman Highway in the coming weeks.

We are expecting to complete the new Western Roundabout and Giblin Drive work in early 2022, weather permitting.

We asked the community for their feedback on this design in June 2019. There was broad support for this project in the community, subject to design details.

View a summary of feedback here: Consultation  Summary - South East Traffic Solution

At the moment traffic is queuing in the Sorell Town Centre. The Bypass will give road users the option to avoid driving through Sorell to connect with the Arthur Highway.

We expect that about 40 percent of traffic entering Sorell from the causeways and 60 percent of traffic entering Sorell from the Arthur Highway will take the Bypass.

The bypass will remove through-traffic from the town centre. This will improve access to Sorell businesses for local residents and visitors, and improve traffic flow through the town centre.

For further information about the project, please contact our contractor, Hazell Bros Group, on  0434 644 861 or email
sorellbypass@hazellbros.com.au

Thank you for your patience during this important work.