The Commonwealth Government has teamed up with the state government and local councils to fund extra road safety projects as part of COVID-19 stimulus funding, and in Tasmania this is resulting in 7 projects to improve cycling safety.
Most of the projects will be constructed in the next 6–12 months and are a mix of safer recreational and transport riding infrastructure.
Glenorchy City Council
Glenorchy Council recently built a shared path connecting the Intercity Cycleway to the main entrance of MONA on its southern approach and this $250,000 project will complete the connection with another shared path connecting the Cycleway to the MONA entrance from the north. It also provides a better connection from the Cycleway to Alcorso Drive where there are tennis courts, playground and lawn bowls.
Hobart City Council
Most of the funding pool is going to the long-awaited project to install separated cycleways on Campbell Street, with connections and short sections of separation on Argyle, Bathurst and Liverpool streets. This network was first approved by the council in December 2019 but has since had amendments to the design to cut back kerb bulbing, which will make it more comfortable for riders and will cost up to $1.99 million: $99,030 is also going to be spent on small project involving a crossing and short section of bike lane on New Town Road.
George Town Council
While we are eagerly awaiting the opening of George Town’s mountain bike trails, the council is preparing to get people to the trail head from town with a new shared path valued at $447,048. The path will be alongside Main Street between Mount George Road, which will take riders to the trail head, and Anzac Drive which connects into existing path networks. The exact alignment is still being worked through.
Dorset Council
While a car park may not sound like a cycling infrastructure project, the $290,000 car park planned to be built next to the Derby trail head will mean people don’t have to park in Main Street and ride to the trail head on the road. As the main street of Derby is also the Tasman Highway, this will avoid children riding on the road mixing with heavy vehicles.
Northern Midlands Council
This $250,000 shared path will provide a safer route around the roundabout at Breadalbane at Hobart Road and Evandale Road so riders don’t have to enter the travel lanes with vehicles. For riders coming to and from Launceston it will provide a safer connection to the Breadalbane–Perth shared path and hopefully will one day connect with a path through to Launceston.
Kingborough Council
This $790,000 project acknowledges that the White Water Creek Track can be an essential transport link through Kingston. It will involve widening the path to 3 metres from the bottom of Kingston Park through to Summerleas Road. It will be sealed in concrete and the alignment changed in places to reduce blind corners. The map shows the existing trail that will be resealed and widened but doesn't show the new continuation of the trail through Kingston Park.
