PROJECTS
EAST TAMAR HIGHWAY/BATMAN HIGHWAY JUNCTION
LOCATION: Northern Tasmania
STATUS: Completed
This is a major infrastructure project at the junction of the East Tamar Highway and the Batman Highway.
Together these roads carry an extremely high volume of vehicles and heavy traffic – they service a large industrial area and busy seaport at Bell Bay, as well as providing the major access to nearby George Town and the surrounding community.
The highways converge some kilometres south of the Bell Bay port and industrial area. Previously this intersection was a T-junction, which had become unsatisfactory in recent years as the volume of traffic continued to grow at a substantial rate..
The junction is currently being replaced by a grade-separated interchange and works include –
• A single span bridge for the East Tamar Highway to pass over the Batman Highway;
• Substantial vertical and horizontal realignment of the East Tamar Highway and installation of wire rope safety barrier in the central median;
• Realignment of the East Arm Road junction to provide a T-intersection to the southbound ramps, rather than with the main carriageway;
• Three box culverts for drainage, stock underpass and access for future water mains construction.
Integral to the works has been a temporary bypass of the former East Tamar Highway alignment, which has allowed construction of the new overpass bridge clear of traffic – utilising the new western ramps to minimise duplication of works and reduce cost.
Works progressed smoothly throughout the contract and VEC completed the project on budget and ahead of the Practical Completion date of June 2009.
