Huon Highway - Mountain River Road Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project

Why did the design change folloing community feedback?

We changed the design following community feedback that told us none of the four design options would be able to address all stakeholder concerns. We have taken elements of each design to develop a solution that addresses the most urgent safety concerns raised by the community.

We looked at potential upgrades that would result in substantial changes to the intersection, which included assessing the current traffic capacity. While we acknowledge there can be some delays leaving Mountain River Road, we found that the intersection is suitable for current traffic volumes.

We also found that larger upgrade options had several flaws, including impacts to local properties and services, significant time to design and deliver, and a high cost.

Is car parking included in this design?

We will continue to investigate ways to improve parking opportunities on Turn Creek Road; however, we need to work with Huon Valley Council as the road owner. Any parking upgrades will be completed after the pedestrian and bus stop safety improvements are complete.

Why aren't you installing traffic lights or a roundabout?

These options are not being considered as part of the project.

There is a steep downhill slope at the intersection and either traffic lights or a roundabout could increase the risk of rear-end crashes, especially for trucks that might struggle to brake going downhill.

These options would also slow down traffic flow on the Huon Highway and roundabouts can be challenging for pedestrians, cyclists and large vehicles to move around.

Both options would increase the cost and timeframe for the project, and a roundabout would also require extensive land acquisition from local landowners.

Will there be any changes to the speed limit?

The speed limit at this location was reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h in late March 2025. The design and proposed safety improvements include retaining the lowered speed limit.

What other improvements are happening on the Huon Highway?

The Australian Government has committed $40 million to improve the length of the Huon Highway (between Kingston and Southport) as part of the Huon Highway Road Corridor Strategy.

The strategy includes a list of road improvement projects that will be delivered over the next 30 years and prioritises projects that will provide a safer, consistent driving environment along the highway.

Community consultation

The community was given the opportunity to provide feedback on four design options during a consultation period from May to June 2025.

The feedback received during consultation has been used to inform the finalised design.

View the Consultation and Feedback summary report.

Safety was the most frequently raised concern, with community feedback highlighting issues such as speed limits, limited visibility, and the need for safe pedestrian crossing points at the bus stops.