Portfolio — 15 August 2026

The Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, announced the completion of the West Tamar Highway duplication in Legana, northern Tasmania, marking the latest milestone under the $420 million Northern Roads Package [TA-260815-infras-f2e130931f49]. The announcement reflects the portfolio's reliance on joint federal-state co-investment to deliver regional road upgrades targeting safety, freight efficiency and active-transport infrastructure for growing communities [TA-260815-infras-f2e130931f49].

The completed duplication adds two lanes in each direction between Freshwater Point Road and Acropolis Drive, easing congestion on a key northern Tasmanian corridor [TA-260815-infras-f2e130931f49]. The project constitutes Stage 2 of the $420 million Northern Roads Package, funded on an 80:20 basis by the Australian Government ($336 million) and the Tasmanian Government ($84 million) [TA-260815-infras-f2e130931f49].

New pedestrian crossings, a shared pathway for walkers and cyclists, additional bike paths and traffic lights — activated at the end of last month — were installed as part of the works [TA-260815-infras-f2e130931f49].

The Minister said the partnership "delivers massive dividends" and that the duplication directly saves commuters time and lives by easing congestion [TA-260815-infras-f2e130931f49]. The framing positions the project as both a practical congestion-relief measure and a safety intervention, consistent with the portfolio's pattern of using federal funding leverage to advance state-level road infrastructure priorities [TA-260815-infras-f2e130931f49].

The Northern Roads Package remains the vehicle through which the portfolio channels sustained investment in Tasmanian regional corridors, with the Legana completion demonstrating the delivery phase of earlier funding commitments.