The RACT has welcomed an announcement by the Tasmanian and Federal governments that the biggest stage of the Midland Highway upgrade – the Perth Link Roads project – would begin two years earlier than scheduled.
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The project
will connect the current upgrades underway between Symmons Plains and Perth and
from Perth to Breadalbane, with construction expected to start late this year
and be completed by 2020.
RACT Group
Chief Executive Harvey Lennon said the infrastructure investment announcement
was significant and was an integral part of the Midland Highway 10-Year Action
Plan.
“The RACT
continues to be strongly supportive of the joint commitment to make the Midland
Highway safer,” he said.
“The project
announcement is a good outcome for motorists and the whole community.”
The RACT
referenced the need to secure future funding for the remainder of the Midland
Highway upgrade in its State and Federal Budget submissions.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure and
Transport Darren Chester said the Perth Link Roads project was integral to the
$500 million Midland Highway Upgrade.
“This is a massive project which will improve
connectivity between the south and north of Tasmania and aims to achieve a 3
star AusRAP safety rating standard along its entire length,” he said. “The end
result is better infrastructure for the state’s various industries and job
security for thousands of people.”
Projects at Kempton, Bagdad and Tunbridge are expected
to be completed in the coming months.
The Perth Link Roads project is expected to go
to tender in mid-2017. Construction is expected to commence in late 2017 and be
completed in 2020. The Australian Government is contributing $400 million and
the Tasmanian Government $100 million to upgrade the Midland Highway.
The Perth Link Roads design plans and images are
currently on display at the Northern Midlands Council offices in Longford from
20 March to 3 April. More information is available at www.midlandhighway.tas.gov.au/projects/perth_link_roads.
