Midway Point Solution

Start of work November 2020

Start of work on the Midway Point Intersection Solution (Tasman /Penna Road), from December 2020

The Midway Point Intersection project is a key part of the South East Traffic Solution (SETS), which will help improve safety and travel time reliability along the Tasman Highway between the Airport and the south of Iron Creek Bridge. This project is jointly funded by the Australian and Tasmanian Governments.

The highway through Midway Point will be duplicated with traffic signals replacing the current roundabout at Penna Road. A signalised intersection with additional traffic lanes will move traffic through the intersection more quickly, while providing safe access to the highway from Midway Point. Improved footpaths and bus facilities will also improve access in and around Midway Point.

The Department of State Growth is continuing to deliver this important project. We have included the concept design to show how the Tasman Highway through Midway Point, and its side roads, will look on project completion.

Construction is expected to commence in December 2020, with vegetation clearing from the rock face next to the Tasman Highway and between the two causeways.

The construction program has been devised to minimise impacts to road users by keeping two lanes of the highway open through Midway Point (one in each direction).

No construction will take place between Christmas and New Year.

Following the initial works in December, the first stage of construction will commence in January 2021, weather permitting, and is expected to follow a nine-month program between January and September 2021. Stage 1 will include:

• excavation of approximately 9 metres of rock face next to the highway on the northern side will allow for the construction of two new lanes on the highway and additional turning lanes into Penna Road

• Safety barriers and screens will be used to minimise the impacts of dust and keep debris and rock fragments away from the road

• widening Penna Road where it intersects with the Tasman Highway to allow for the new slip lanes

• construction of two concrete retaining walls, one on both the eastern and western side of the Tasman Highway/ Penna Road intersection – bolts will be drilled into the rock face to anchor the new retaining walls

• construction of new road pavement

• construction of a new eastbound bus stop.

The route along the Tasman Highway will remain unchanged during this phase of the project as all the works will take place outside the current footprint of the highway.

How will the work affect you?

We will be working between 6:00 am and 7:00 pm, Monday to Friday, between 8.00 am and 6.00 pm on Saturdays, and between 10.00 am and 6.00 pm on Sundays. We will let you know in advance if we need to do any work outside these times.

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. Access to local connecting roads and vehicle access to businesses in Midway Point will be provided at all times.

Traffic changes

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

There will be no lane closures on the Tasman Highway in either direction during the morning and afternoon peak times.

Speed limits through the project site will be reduced to 40 km/h at all times, unless otherwise safe to increase to 60 km/h. Motorists should allow up to 8 minutes extra travel time during this work. Please keep to speed limits and follow the directions of traffic controllers and signs.

Contact

If you have any questions, please contact our contractor, Fulton Hogan, on 0473 144 399 or email [email protected]

For more information on our projects, visit transport.tas.gov.au.

Thank you for your patience during this important work.