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 Paterson 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.

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In April 2024, the 4.6 km stretch of road from the Sideling Lookout to Whish Wilson Road was 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.

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Consultation on the next phase of the project is now underway, open from Tuesday, 20 May 2025 extended until Sunday, 29 June 2025.

You can view the proposed plans and provide feedback in multiple ways:

• View the plans and share your thoughts online by clicking here
• View the plans in person by visiting the Council Office, where you can also provide feedback in writing
• Attend one of the in person information sessions being held by the Project Team, where community members can view the designs and ask questions of the team in person. The session will be held on:
  • Thursday, 22 May | 3:30 pm - 6:30pm @ Springfield Hall (20 South Springfield Road, Springfield)
  • Saturday, 24 May | 9am - 12 noon @ Woolworths Scottsdale (1 Victoria Street, Scottsdale)

Construction on the section of the Tasman Highway between Minstone Road and the Sideling Lookout is on track to start in late 2025.

Construction will be carried out in stages, with work to widen the section of road between Minstone Road and Sideling Lookout on track to start in late 2025.

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For further information on the project please contact Senior Consultant, Jacobs, Natasha Corponi via email here

Find out more at visit the Transport website here

Updated June 2025

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