A Shorten Labor Government will invest $1.3 billion in a comprehensive Tasmanian Roads Package to improve safety for motorists and drive economic development in the state’s agricultural and tourism sectors.
Labor will invest in roads in all corners of the state, from replacing Hobart’s Bridgewater Bridge to major safety upgrades of the Bass, West Tamar, Frankford and Murchison Highways in the north and north-west, as well as projects that will reduce traffic congestion and expedite the movement of freight.
The package will not only make Tasmania’s roads safer, but also boost productivity, thereby driving economic growth and job creation.
After nearly six year of cuts and chaos, the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison Government has failed to commence a single new major project anywhere in Tasmania that had not originally been identified and funded by the former Federal Labor Government.
And if they are re-elected, the cuts will continue.
By contrast, Labor understands the importance of an efficient and well-maintained road network to the state’s economic and industrial growth.
Better roads will allow for swifter movement of produce and exports around the state, while also supporting growth in tourism, which generates more than $3 billion a year and supports nearly 40,000 jobs.
Federal Labor’s Tasmanian Roads Package includes:

NORTH

• The Glen Road Upgrade: $1.45 million.


• West Tamar Highway – Exeter roundabouts: $2 million.


• Palana Road Upgrade: $3.6 million.


• Dalrymple Road Upgrade: $2.1 million.


• West Tamar Highway Improvements: $25 million.


• Tasman Highway – Sideling Upgrade: $25 million.


• Frankford Highway Upgrade: $20 million.


• Bass Highway – Westbury to Latrobe: $50 million.


• Birralee Road Upgrade – Westbury and Frankford: $24 million.

NORTH WEST AND WEST COAST

• Murchison Highway Upgrade: $35 million.


• Old Surrey Road/Massy-Greene Drive Upgrade: $16 million.


• Lyell Highway – Queenstown to Strahan: $15 million.


• Bass Highway – Marrawah to Wynyard: $60 million.


• Port Sorell Main Road – Bass Highway to Port Sorell: $10 million.


• Henty Road Upgrade – Strahan to Zeehan: $10 million.

SOUTH

• Hobart Congestion Package: $75 million.


• Hobart Airport Interchange: $10 million.


• Sandfly Road and Huon Highway Intersection Upgrade: $12 million.


• Huonville Bypass: $7.5 million.


• Tasman Highway Intelligent Transport Solution: $10 million.


• Sorell to Tasman Bridge/Hobart Corridor (Tasman Highway): $130 million.


• Plenty Link Road: $20 million.


• Tasman Highway Upgrade – Orford to Bicheno: $20 million.


• Arthur Highway Upgrade: $30 million.

In addition, a Shorten Labor Government will invest $666 million to continue the Midland Highway 10 Year Action Plan, which was commenced by the former Federal Labor Government after years of the Liberals’ neglect and will deliver a replacement Bridgewater Bridge.
All up, the former Labor Government invested an unprecedented $1.9 billion in Tasmania’s infrastructure, including delivering the most extensive modernisation of its rail freight network in generations.
Over six years in office, Labor increased annual investment in Tasmania from $157 to $264 per Tasmanian.
Labor can afford to pay for better schools and hospitals, and investments in roads because we are closing down the Liberals’ unfair tax loopholes for the top end of town.