The Great Eastern Drive is a major tourist route in Tasmania. Photo: East Coast Tasmania Tourism.
The Tasmanian Government has opened tenders for the construction on the next stage of the Great Eastern Drive Tourism Support package.
The project aims to improve road safety, driver experience and reliability along the road, which spans the eastern half of the island. The drive is a major attraction, one of five self-guided tour drives aimed at tourists who want to experience Tasmania.
While the Tasmanian Government is providing $25 million for the project, the Commonwealth is contributing the bulk of the capital, at $100 million.
“With the next stage of the Great Eastern Drive Tourism Support package underway, the Australian Government, in partnership with the Tasmanian Government, is delivering on our commitment to build regional infrastructure that supports jobs, tourism and safer roads,” Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said.
“Once completed, these upgrades will improve safe access for visitors exploring Tasmania’s east coast and provide more efficient travel for local communities.”
Recent tenders are part of the Triabunna works package, which includes the widening and realignment of a 1.3-kilometre section of the Tasman Highway running north of Triabunna.
Construction is slated for early 2026, and the work will complement the program’s other ongoing upgrades.
Tasmanian Infrastructure Minister Kerry Vincent said: “Tasmania’s east coast is home to some of our state’s most breathtaking attractions and the Tasman Highway is the scenic gateway that connects us all to the region known as the Great Eastern Drive, between Orford and St Helens.
“Through the Triabunna works package, we are delivering improved safety and traffic flow for everyone travelling the east coast, including locals, freight operators and the growing number of visitors to our state.”
Works on the Apsley package started earlier this year and are expected to be completed by mid-2026, delivering improvements to the highway between Coles Bay Road and Bicheno. This includes the east coast’s first overtaking lane going to Hobart.
In addition, planning continues on the Lisdillon package for a further 13 km section of the highway between Rocky Hills and Pontypool, an area north of Little Swanport.
More information on the Great Eastern Drive program can be found on the Tasmanian Government’s website.
