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About the project

The Transit Lane Connector project will improve traffic flow by easing the bottleneck on the Southern Outlet between Davey and Macquarie streets through the addition of an extra lane, which will link the new extended clearway on Macquarie Street with the planned Southern Outlet Transit Lane.

Construction of the Transit Lane Connector started in August 2024 and is expected to be complete in May 2025, weather permitting.

The Transit Lane Connector is part of the Southern Projects suite of improvements that will provide safer and more reliable travel options between Hobart’s growing southern suburbs and the CBD by supporting greater use of public transport and carpooling.

Update: April 2025

We have opened the new Transit Lane Connector. We have some landscaping  and other minor works to complete  during May 2025 before the project is fully finished.

Our video here explains how the Transit Lane Connector will work now that it has opened.

The extra lane can be used by all traffic from the end of the current bus lane.
After the construction of the Southern Outlet Transit Lane from Olinda Grove to Macquarie Street, which has not yet started, it will become a "T3' transit lane.

What are we doing?

The Transit Lane Connector will add an extra lane at the bottom of the Southern Outlet between Davey Street and Macquarie Street. The operation of the intersection of the Southern Outlet with Macquarie Street and Davey Street will remain the same.

An extra lane has been added on the left side of the Southern Outlet on the inbound approach to the intersection of Davey Street. Existing traffic islands have been moved and replaced.

The Southern Outlet has been widened on the right side between Davey Street and Macquarie Street to allow for an extra lane through this recognised bottleneck.

The existing traffic barrier and footpath on the right side has been removed and replaced and a new retaining wall built. The footpath on the left side will remain in its existing condition.

Some vegetation and trees next to the road will need to be removed to make room for the new lane. Landscaping including replanting of trees and vegetation will happen after major construction has been completed.

The map below shows the location of the new lane.

Southern Projects map June 2024

Community consultation

Community consultation finished in September 2021 for the Southern Outlet Transit Lane and the Macquarie and Davey Streets Bus Improvements.

You can read more about the community consultation here: Southern Projects Consultation and Feedback Summary Report (PDF 203.4 KB) and here Kingborough Park and Ride Facilities Fact Sheet (PDF 1.1 MB).

Timing

Construction of the Transit Lane Connector started in August 2024. The Transit Lane Connector opened to the public in late April 2025 and the project is expected to be fully complete in May 2025.

The working hours will be 7:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday. We will also be working at night from 6:30 pm to 6:30 am, Sunday night through to Friday morning.

Timeline

We are timing these works to minimise traffic impacts and make sure we aren’t working on too many sections at the same time.

Construction starts on Transit Lane Connector between Macquarie and Davey Streets

August 2024

Work finishes on Transit Lane Connector

April 2025

Tenders advertised for rockface protection works on the Southern Outlet

2025

Major construction starts on Southern Outlet Transit lane

2025

FAQs

Will these works be noisy?

Yes. Nearby residents and businesses may hear construction in working hours. We will try and complete the noisiest work before 11:00 pm and no night shifts are scheduled to start on Friday and Saturday nights to ensure residents aren’t impacted on Saturday or Sunday mornings.

There will be no blasting or vibrations, and we will use noise barriers and have installed technology that allows us to turn off movement alarms on machinery. When we install the safety barriers on our first night shift, residents may hear us driving the steel pins into the road. This is a one-off event, and we will complete it as early, and as quickly as we can.

Can I catch a bus during construction?

Yes. Public transport will still operate during construction.

When will you be working?

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

We will also be working each night from 6:30 pm to 6:30 am, Sunday evening to Friday morning. The Southern Outlet between Kingston and Hobart carries one of the highest daily traffic volumes on our State’s road network. We are working at night to ensure traffic can flow during the day.

Will I be able to access my property during nightworks?

Yes, accesses to businesses, properties and side streets will always be provided.

Will parking spaces be removed?

Yes. A section of permit parking will be removed on the left side of Macquarie Street between the intersections of the Southern Outlet and Gore Street, connecting the new lane to the extended Macquarie Street peak period clearway (see image below).  Permit parking and short-term parking is available on side streets off Macquarie Street, including Gore Street, Ispahan Avenue, Warneford Street and Denison Lane.

Does this project include acquisition?

We have acquired land from two properties to enable us to build the project.

Will any trees or vegetation be removed?

Yes. An extra lane will be added on the left side of the Southern Outlet on the inbound approach to the intersection of Davey Street. Some vegetation and trees within the road reserve will be removed to make room for the new lane (see image below). Landscaping, including replanting of trees and vegetation, will happen once construction is complete.

Southern Projects vegetation removal image June 2024

Will parking spaces be removed?

Yes. A section of permit parking will be removed on the left side of Macquarie Street between the intersections of the Southern Outlet and Gore Street, connecting the new lane to the extended Macquarie Street peak period clearway (see image below).  Permit parking and short-term parking is available on side streets off Macquarie Street, including Gore Street, Ispahan Avenue, Warneford Street and Denison Lane.

Southern Projects Transit lane parking removal image June 2024

What is the Southern Projects?

The Southern Projects is a suite of coordinated transport projects focused on providing safer and more reliable travel options between Hobart’s growing southern suburbs and the CBD.

The Southern Projects will provide an end-to-end solution that will improve traffic flow and make bus travel more attractive to commuters.

They include park and ride facilities at Huntingfield and Firthside, the extension of a peak hour clearway, cycling and bus improvements on Macquarie and Davey Streets, the Southern Outlet Transit Lane to improve access for public transport and emergency services, and construction of an extra lane on the Southern Outlet between Davey and Macquarie Streets (Transit Lane Connector).

Contact

If you have any questions, please contact our Stakeholder Engagement representative, Lucy Bennett, on 0408 074 592 or email transitlaneconnector@stategrowth.tas.gov.au.