Freight operators using Bridport Road in northeast Tasmania should allow up to 15 minutes extra travel time while the first package of widening, pavement and intersection works is under construction.
Work began on 2 October between Industry Road and Weymouth Road at Pipers River as part of the Bridport Road Freight Efficiency and Safety Upgrades project.
The package includes road widening and surface repairs, improvements to the road slope, and new turning lanes at Industry Road, Pipers River Road, Back Creek Road, Weymouth Road and the Pipers River General Store.
Work hours are 7am to 6pm from Monday to Friday and 8am to 4pm on Saturdays. Lane closures and reduced speed limits will apply during working hours.
The Tasmanian Government’s contract register records the Package 1 contract at $4,320,248.23. It was awarded to Tasmanian contractor AWC Pty Ltd, with the contract period running to 4 May 2027.
Published funding figures do not reconcile
The Australian and Tasmanian governments’ 2 October announcement says they have committed a combined $25 million to the overall Bridport Road project.
However, Transport Tasmania’s project page lists $16 million from the Commonwealth and $4 million from Tasmania, followed by a further $4 million from each government. Those four amounts add to $28 million, while the same page still states the total is $25 million.
The public material therefore requires clarification about the final funding split and project total. The discrepancy does not affect the separately published $4.32 million value of the Package 1 construction contract.
Freight corridor role
Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the works would support safer, smoother and more reliable freight movements along the corridor. Tasmanian Infrastructure and Transport Minister Kerry Vincent said the improvements were intended to deliver more reliable travel times and better access for local communities.
Bridport Road links northeast Tasmanian communities and industries with Bell Bay. Future packages are planned between Jarvis Link and Little Forester River from late 2027, and between the East Tamar Highway and Dalrymple Road intersection from 2028.
The government material does not identify whether the completed work is designed around particular higher-productivity vehicle classes or quantify the expected freight-time and operating-cost benefits.