Smoother road trips ahead on Tasmania's East Coast

The Tasman Highway’s Great Eastern Drive is set for further upgrades that will improve safety and traffic flow along the State’s East Coast.

The Australian and Tasmanian Governments are jointly delivering these improvements to the Tasman Highway, which will include junction upgrades, road widening and additional overtaking lanes. The works will be undertaken in three separate packages.

The Australian Government has committed $100 million towards this project, which is delivering on the $540 million election commitment to upgrade key road corridors in Tasmania. The Tasmanian Government is also investing $25 million towards the project.

The first package of works, known as the Apsley package, started in February 2025 and will deliver upgrades to the section of Tasman highway between Bicheno and Coles Bay Road.

The upgrades will add the east coast’s first Hobart-bound overtaking lane, and deliver vital safety improvements through road widening and realignment to several corners of the highway with high crash rates.

The Triabunna package includes upgrades on a 1.3-kilometre section of the highway to the north of Triabunna. Designs for this project will be finalised in May 2025, with construction expected to start later this year.

The Lisdillon package will upgrade a 13-kilometre section of the highway between Pontypool and Rocky Hills and is in early planning stages.

Further details about the project can be accessed here: https://www.transport.tas.gov.au/greateasterndrive

Quotes attributable to Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

“The Albanese Government is committed to improving road safety and traffic flow nationwide.

“That is why we have committed $100 million towards the upgrades to Tasmania’s Great Eastern Drive.

“We will continue to partner with the Tasmanian Government to deliver critical road infrastructure upgrades Tasmanians need and deserve.”

Quotes attributable to Tasmanian Infrastructure Minister Kerry Vincent:

“The Tasmanian Liberal Government is focused on building safer and more efficient roads all around the State.

“We are contributing $25 million towards these upgrades which will provide a safer and smoother experience along the Great Eastern Drive for locals, freight operators, and the growing number of tourists visiting the State.

“The highway has had several upgrades under this project since 2018, prioritising areas that improve safety and drive increased tourism to the many iconic and regional locations on the State’s East Coast.

“The upgrades have been heavily influenced by feedback from the community, several councils, and other key stakeholders on multiple occasions since 2019.”