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 was undertaken in early 2025 and concluded on Sunday, 29 June 2025.

You can view the proposed plans and the consultation summary online via the Department of State Growth here.

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The Australian and Tasmanian Governments have committed $120 million towards Stage 1 and 2 of the project on an 80:20 basis to improve safety, travel time reliability and access to Tasmania’s north-east for locals and visitors.

Stage 1 works will upgrade the section between Minstone Road and Whish-Wilson Road, starting with a two-kilometre stretch near Scottsdale.

Options between the Sideling Lookout and St Patricks River, including Corkerys Road, will be assessed throughout 2026.

What’s next?

• Pending approvals, Stage 1 construction is expected to start in autumn 2026.
• Stage 2 will include further technical investigations and targeted engagement to guide future freight movements between Scottsdale and Launceston.

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For further information on the project please contact the Project Team on 1800 557 673 or via email sidelingupgrade@stategrowth.tas.gov.au

Find out more via the Transport website here

Updated January 2026

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