Media release – Michael Ferguson, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, 24 June 2022
Kingston Bypass duplication plans released to include full interchange
The Tasmanian Liberal Government has released the preferred option for duplicating the Kingston Bypass, including upgrading the Algona Road roundabout to a full interchange with a second roundabout and a fly over bridge for traffic south of Kingston to bypass the roundabouts.
Members of the local community are encouraged to view and comment on our plans, with feedback to be considered in further development of the designs for the project.
We are upgrading the bypass in response to increasing traffic volumes in the rapidly developing Kingborough area. The Australian Government has committed $48 million, with the Tasmanian Liberal Government funding $12 million of this $60 million project.
The current option was developed after consultation with the public and key stakeholders in December 2021.
The project will increase a 3.5-kilometre section of the bypass from one lane each way to two lanes each way, improving safety and traffic flow.
This section includes the Algona Road Roundabout and Channel Highway intersection, through to the Groningen Road overpass, including the intersections with Summerleas Road and the Huon Highway.
The Kingston Bypass will continue through to connect with the Channel Highway via an overpass, with roundabouts either side for the bypass on and off ramps, similar to the Summerleas Road/Huon Highway and Hobart Airport interchanges. The new arrangement will improve access to and from the bypass.
Public comment is open from Monday, 27 June to Sunday, 17 July 2022. The plans can be viewed and comments made on the Transport website at www.transport.tas.gov.au/kingston-bypass-algona-roundabout.
There will also be a drop-in session at the Kingborough Community Hub on Wednesday, 6 July between 9:30am and 12:30pm, as well as a static display at Kingston Town Shopping Centre.
Media release – Bicycle Network, 29 June 2022
Algona Road works should include shared path
A safe shared path should be central to the proposed Algona Road works and not shoved off to some future time, Bicycle Network’s Tasmanian spokesperson Alison Hetherington said today.
“It’s not clear in the proposals that have been put out for public comment this week whether the marked ‘future path’ linking Kingston to Huntingfield will be built as part of the $60 million project,” Ms Hetherington said.
It beggars belief that in a $60 million roadworks project one of the central elements is not a safe shared path to help kids get to school and sport, or their parents get to work and bus stops.
“It would be a false economy to say that a shared path can’t be afforded in this project.
“By making it even more difficult to cross on foot or bike between Kingston and Huntingfield the government would potentially push more people into cars and make traffic problems worse.
“We want to see a cycling and walking underpass or overpass built when the ground is being dug up to put in the new roundabout and slip lanes.
“Ensuring people don’t have to cross busy slip lanes will future-proof riding and walking in the area for years to come.
“Many local trips are just a few kilometres, which should easily be made by bicycle or scooter, but are made more difficult when people have to cross the busy highways that dissect the greater Kingston area.
“The Huon Highway has underpasses to help people walking and riding, and the same access should be implemented for this upgrade.
“We know when governments build more road lanes it encourages more car trips, but if they build safe, separated cycling and walking links at the same time it gives more people more transport choices,” Ms Hetherington said.
