Lyell Highway Safety Upgrade – Queenstown to Strahan
This project identifies important highway upgrades to support Tasmania’s freight and tourism economies and improve its overall safety for all road users.
Constructed in the late 1960s, the Lyell Highway is the most direct route between Queenstown and Strahan and forms part of Tasmania’s Western Wilds tourism journey. The Lyell Highway also provides a social and commercial transport route linking residents and businesses.
The highway passes through difficult terrain, winding around the bases of steep hills, creeks and small rivers. It has many tight curves that do not meet today’s current safety standards and guidelines.
Click play below to see a video update on the Lyell Highway.
1About the project
About the project
This project is jointly funded by the Australian and Tasmanian Governments. The Australian Government has committed $15 million under its Roads of Strategic Importance initiative and the Tasmanian Government has committed a further $3.75 million towards the project.
The safety upgrade is focused on improving:
- safety by creating opportunities for faster moving traffic to overtake slower moving vehicles
- travel time reliability for commercial and social purposes between Queenstown and Strahan
- the driving conditions for local road users, freight operators and tourists.
This safety upgrade includes eight stopping bays and four passing lanes, and other safety treatments such as adding new safety barriers, road signage and guideposts. The upgrade will also improve driving conditions by adjusting the road alignment, removing rocks or clearing vegetation in identified locations.
To better understand the upgrades needed for the Lyell Highway, we have been consulting with the West Coast Council, the Tasmanian Transport Association and freight operators since 2020. We are continuing to engage with these key stakeholders as we progress the upgrade designs.
2Maps and Designs
Click to view the Lyell Highway Safety Upgrade Map to view in full size.
The highway upgrade starts from the Queen River Bridge in Queenstown to the Harvey Street Junction in Strahan.
From January 2022 we decided to address the upgrade as one project, rather than the two stages originally planned.
The map in the link below shows the locations of the slow vehicle stopping bays and passing lanes. To improve driver safety we are also adding guide posts, line marking, and safety signage and barriers.
Driving conditions will also be improved by adjusting the road alignment, removing rocks or clearing vegetation in identified locations.
Lyell Highway (Queenstown to Strahan Safety Upgrade) Roll Plan.
3Timing
We started working on Thursday, 8 December 2022, and should be finished in June 2024.
There will be a reduced speed limit and some lane closures during our working hours, 7:00 am - 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday. Please slow down and follow the directions of traffic controllers and signs.
4Contact details
For further information about the project please contact our Community Liaison Officer, Angela Riley, on 0418 662 000 or by email at: office@gradco.com.au
Accessibility
If you would like to find out more information and you have accessibility requirements, please contact the engagement officer (details below).
You can find out more about Transport Services' commitment to accessibility on our website here: https://www.transport.tas.gov.au/accessibility
Contact
For further information about the project please contact our Community Liaison Officer, Angela Riley, on 0418 662 000 or by email at: office@gradco.com.au