A long-awaited $29 million road bypassing Huonville’s town centre will officially open next Monday.
The Huon Link Road project, first proposed nearly 15 years ago, will divert through-traffic away from Huonville’s main street.
The new road connects the junction of Orchard Avenue and the Huon Highway to Flood Road near the corner of Sale Street and will be particularly beneficial to those travelling to Cygnet.
Infrastructure Minister Kerry Vincent said the project was an example of successful cooperation between all levels of government.
“Today we’re seeing behind us the final seal going down on a $29 million project,” he said.
“The people in Huonville have seen enormous growth in their township and to have something like this happening now helps with that growth of the area.”
The state government contributed $16 million to the project, with federal funding covering the remaining $13.2 million.
Huon Valley Mayor Sally Doyle said the road will have plenty of practical benefits for local residents, especially during peak periods.
“If you’ve ever been there at the roundabout in the main street of Huonville at school time, you will know what I mean,” Doyle said.
“This will alleviate some of that pressure that we have on our main street and make it easier for pedestrians to cross the road.”
The project, which began construction in 2023, includes flood mitigation measures and bridge improvements.
While soon to be open to traffic, minor works including line marking and landscaping will continue over the coming months.
Federal Franklin MP Julie Collins said the opening will be “a great day for the Huon Valley” and cautioned motorists to be careful during the initial weeks of operation.
“This road has been long talked about,” she said. “It will improve safety, it will improve amenity particularly for the people in Huonville.”
