Tasman Highway 'Sideling' Upgrade

The project involves upgrading about 24 kilometres of the Tasman Highway from just south of St Patricks River to Minstone Road, Scottsdale.

The project aims to improve safety and the current road alignment by widening the road, sealing the road shoulders and providing passing opportunities. It will improve:

• travel time reliability for commercial operators and the travelling public between Bridport, Scottsdale and Launceston.
• safety for heavy vehicles and general road users by providing wider lanes and sealed shoulders
• road alignments by widening corners
• the driving experience an access for local road users, freight operators and tourists.

In addition to the obvious benefits to residents of the North East through improved road infrastructure, this project will be the most significant inter-generational investment in the region to date unlocking the potential of the North East, leveraging off the significant investment in irrigation schemes in the region. The project will also provide significant benefit to the City of Launceston by taking the North East freight off the northern outlet and out of Bathurst and Patterson Streets and will provide an improved access route through to the east coast via the Dorset municipality.

The $120 million-upgrade is being jointly funded by the Australian and Tasmania Governments.

The upgrade from Sideling Lookout to Whish Wilson Road has been completed.

Investigation are now underway on the most effective ways to deliver further upgrades between St Patricks River and the Sideling Lookout, and Whish-Wilson Road and Minstone Road. Jacobs has been engaged to undertake these investigations and develop concept designs for the further upgrades.

These upgrades will improve safety, travel time reliability and freight movements between Launceston and the north-east of Tasmania. Road users will benefit from safety improvements, including road widening, slow vehicle turnouts and barriers.

Consultation on the next phase of the project will happen in May 2025.

For further information on the project please contact Stakeholder E.ngagement Consultant, David Gladwin on 03 8668 3697 or email sideling@stategrowth.tas.gov.au

Find out more at www.transport.tas.gov.au/roadworks/tasman_highway_sideling

Updated March 2025

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