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| Tasman Highway | |
|---|---|
| Name | Tasman Highway |
| Country | Australia |
| State | Tasmania |
| Type | highway |
| Route | A3 |
| Length km | 410 |
| Established | 1930s |
| Direction a | West |
| Direction b | East |
| Termini a | Hobart |
| Termini b | St Helens / Scottsdale |
Tasman Highway The Tasman Highway is a major arterial route in Tasmania, Australia, forming part of the A3 corridor that links Hobart, Sorell, Triabunna, St Helens, and Launceston via an eastern coastal alignment. It serves as a primary link between Tasmania's capital region and the Tasman Peninsula, the Freycinet Peninsula, and northeastern settlements, supporting tourism to destinations such as Freycinet National Park and commercial connections to ports including Bell Bay and Devonport via linked routes. The highway traverses diverse landscapes from urban Hobart CBD approaches and the Meehan Range to coastal heath and the Tamar River environs, integrating with strategic corridors such as the Midlands Highway.
The A3 alignment begins east of Hobart near Austins Ferry and progresses through suburban precincts including Cambridge, Sorell, and Dodges Ferry before following the eastern coastline past Bicheno and Swansea toward Freycinet Peninsula and Coles Bay. Beyond Freycinet National Park it continues north through St Marys and Scottsdale corridors and terminates at junctions servicing St Helens and northeastern agricultural districts. The highway interconnects with arterial links such as the Brooker Highway in Hobart, the Midlands Highway near Campbell Town, and the East Tamar Highway approach to Launceston, while providing access to heritage sites like Port Arthur via feeder roads and to conservation areas including Douglas-Apsley National Park.
Initial tracks that evolved into the modern route were used by early European settlers and convicts in the 19th century connecting Hobart Town to eastern shore settlements and whaling stations at Bicheno and Swansea. Progressive upgrades occurred during the interwar period and post‑World War II reconstruction, with major sealing and alignment works undertaken in the 1950s–1970s influenced by timber extraction in regions near St Marys and mining around Ringarooma. Late 20th-century tourism growth linked to attractions such as Freycinet National Park and ferry services from Devonport stimulated further improvements, and 21st-century projects have targeted bypasses and capacity upgrades near Hobart International Airport and the Midlands Highway interchange.
The highway comprises single and dual carriageway sections, with dualized segments near urban nodes like Cambridge and approaches to Hobart CBD and single-lane two-way sections through rural and coastal stretches near Freycinet Peninsula. Structures include bridges over the Tamar River tributaries, culverts in the Floodplain areas adjacent to Swan River, and engineered coastal embankments near Coles Bay and St Helens. Road pavement varies from asphaltic concrete in high-traffic zones to chipseal in remote sections; roadside amenities include rest areas serving visitors to Maria Island and interpretive signage for landmarks such as Cape Tourville Lighthouse. Safety infrastructure comprises sealed shoulders, guardrails across escarpments like the Meehan Range, and traffic signals at major intersections with routes to Sorell and Triabunna.
Key towns on the route include Hobart, Sorell, Dunalley, Eaglehawk Neck, Swansea, Bicheno, St Marys, St Helens, and Scottsdale, with junctions at arterial nodal points linking to Arthur Highway toward Port Arthur, the Apsley River crossings serving inland flows, and connections to the East Coast Rail Line corridors. Interchanges with the Brooker Highway and feeder roads to Hobart International Airport and the port precinct near Glenorchy facilitate freight movements, while local access to conservation reserves such as Freycinet National Park and cultural sites like Furneaux Galleries is provided by sealed spur roads.
Traffic volumes vary; suburban approaches to Hobart record peak commuter flows and higher heavy vehicle percentages due to freight serving Bell Bay and regional ports, while eastern coastal segments experience seasonal spikes from tourism to Freycinet National Park and Bicheno. The route has been subject to incidents including rockfalls near escarpments, vehicular accidents on narrow coastal curves, and flood-induced closures following severe weather events linked to Bass Strait storm systems. Road safety campaigns coordinated with agencies such as Tasmanian Department of Police and Emergency Management and regional councils have addressed speed management, overtaking lanes, and roadside hazard reduction.
Responsibility for planning, maintenance and capital works on the corridor is held by the Tasmanian Department of State Growth, with local government partners including the Sorell Council, Glamorgan–Spring Bay Council, Break O'Day Council, and Dorset Council contributing to local asset management. Funding mechanisms have combined state allocations, federal road grants, and targeted programs for tourism infrastructure; contractors engaged in surfacing and bridgeworks have included regional engineering firms and national construction companies experienced in highway rehabilitation and coastal protection projects.
Planned initiatives include duplicated carriageways and intersection upgrades near growth precincts in the Sorell and Cambridge areas, safety realignments at high‑risk coastal curves, and resilience works addressing erosion and sea‑level impacts along shores bordering Great Oyster Bay. Proposals also contemplate enhanced tourist facilities and integrated signage for sites such as Freycinet National Park, alongside freight efficiency improvements linking to the Bell Bay industrial zone and modal interchanges near Launceston.
Category:Highways in Tasmania