The road and rail corridor connecting Burnie and Hobart is part of the National Land Transport Network. It connects regional producers to a number of Tasmania’s ports, and producers depend on it to bring goods to market at competitive prices. The corridor is forecast to carry 35% more freight by 2034–35, compared to 2014–15 volumes.
Given the corridor’s importance to Tasmania’s transport network, there is a need to ensure its future efficiency and reliability.
In 2017, the Tasmanian Government released the Burnie to Hobart Freight Corridor Strategy to guide future planning and investment along the corridor. The strategy aims to ensure freight performance standards are maintained and enhanced over the long term, in line with freight demand, user needs and emerging challenges.
The program proposal involves a range of road and rail improvements to the corridor, such as intersection upgrades or lane duplications. The Tasmanian Government has funded a number of the identified proposals and is prioritising and preparing business cases for the remaining investments, which would support the key outcomes of the Strategy. Potential works on the Burnie–Hobart corridor include:
- Bass Highway, Devonport to Deloraine
- Bass Highway, Burnie to Smithton
- Illawarra Main Road
- Brooker Highway, Domain Highway overpass
- Second and Third Tranche Rail Investment Program
- Bridgewater Bridge
- bridge strengthening and maintenance.
Individual components of the program (including their costs and benefits) are still subject to investigation through business case development.
Proponent to complete business case development (Stage 3 of Infrastructure Australia’s Assessment Framework).