The Liberal Government is committed to improving safety on the Midland Highway.
I can confirm today that two major tenders have been awarded to undertake major safety improvements and upgrades on the Midland Highway south of Spring Hill and also south of Kempton.
This Government is also committed to creating jobs and making sure that Tasmanian businesses get their fair share of Government contracts. That’s why I am pleased to announce that the two contracts, valued at nearly $10 million, have been awarded to Hazell Brothers. That’s nearly $10 million that will be injected into the local economy and also into creating safer roads. Around 60 people will be employed to deliver both of these projects. Safer roads and more jobs is a win-win for Tasmania.
These upgrades are about improving safety and saving lives and are part of the State and Federal Government agreement to invest $500 million in improving the Midland Highway. Through working cooperatively with our federal colleagues and securing 80 per cent of the funding from the Federal Government we are going to make Tasmania’s roads safer.
These are just two of six major upgrades planned for the summer season, which will improve the safety of our major highway.
Further details of the remaining upgrades will be announced once tenders have been awarded.
PROJECT DETAILS
Work will begin next week on two sites on the Midland Highway as part of a $500 million of safety improvements on the national highway.
Tasmanian company Hazell Bros Pty Ltd has been awarded the contracts to undertake road safety improvements at:
o South of Spring Hill – the project is to widen a 2.5km section of road to install flexible safety barrier. In addition, the road surface will be improved by adding an extra pavement layer and new seal and line markings. The works will significantly improve the safety rating of the highway.
o South of Kempton – the project is to widen an approximately 2km section of road to install flexible safety barrier. In addition, the existing road pavement will be improved with new seal and line marking. The works will significantly improve the safety rating of the highway.
Work will start next week and is expected to be finished around April 2015.
Between Bagdad and Perth, over 70 per cent of crashes are single vehicle loss of control or head on crashes. That is why we’re installing flexible safety barriers (which reduces the risk of serious injury crashes by up to 90 per cent), widening the road where possible, installing audible edge lines (“rumble strips”) and removing roadside hazards.
We recognise that there will be some disruption and delays for motorists travelling along the highway as the safety improvements are progressively rolled out. We thank motorists for their patience and understanding that this is the Government’s top road safety priority and will help save lives.
Rene Hidding, Minister for Infrastructure
