The long-awaited Summerleas Road underpass in Kingston is now open to the public, following months of delays and detours that left many in the community frustrated.
The $1.75 million project was jointly funded through a $750,000 Greater Hobart City Deal grant and $1 million from council capital works.
The build, which began in June 2024, was hampered by a series of complications that dragged the timeline out by several months.
Last year, Kingborough Council admitted the project “has not met the expected standards” and committed to undertaking a “thorough review”.
It is the second council-led development in recent months to come under scrutiny, following major design flaws at the Kingston bus interchange that left it nonoperational for over a year.
While some finishing touches are still required, including landscaping, CCTV installation and final road resealing, the council said the underpass is open and in use.
“This underpass will provide healthier transport options for moving about throughout Kingston,” the council said.
“It allows commuters to travel off road from Springfarm and Whitewater communities via the Whitewater Creek Track past Kingston Park and the Kingborough Community Hub to reach services and shops within the Kingston CBD.”
The new infrastructure addresses long-standing safety concerns in the area, where a blind corner and narrow road width had previously ruled out the option of an overpass.
