Midlands Highway
Encyclopedia
The Midland Highway is one of Tasmania
's major inter-city highway
s, running for 176 kilometres (109.4 mi) between Hobart
and Launceston
. It is part of the AusLink
National Network and is a vital link for road freight to transport goods to and from the two cities.
It represents a major north-south transportation corridor in Tasmania and has the route 1 designation as part of the National Highway
.
The highway consists of various traffic lane arrangements, the most common being two lanes – one in each direction, with overtaking options and at-grade intersection
s. At both the Launcestion and Hobart sections of the highway there are small portions of grade-separated dual carriageway
.
Macquarie again visited the colony in 1821, when the road was fit for a carriage, but his journal records many different sections, and it was not until 1831 that the first regular coach service was operated by J. E. Cox.
The first mailman, Robert Taylor, was appointed in 1816, he walked, leaving Hobart and Launceston on alternate Sundays and carrying the mail in a pack.
The first record of movement between the two centres was in 1821 when then Governor Lachlan Macquarie
selected sites for towns on the highway.
It was known as the 'Main Road' or 'Hobart Road' for most of its history. In the 1930s it became known as the Midland Highway, and in the 2000s - it also had 'The Heritage Highway' label applied to it.
The route of the highway originally ran between Hobart and Launceston
, and passed through the localities which are now known as:
Bridgewater
, Brighton
, Pontville
, Mangalore
, Bagdad
, Dysart, Kempton
, Melton Mowbray, Jericho
, Oatlands
, Antill Ponds, Woodbury, Tunbridge
, Ross
, Campbell Town
, Conara Junction, Cleveland, Epping Forest, Perth
, Breadalbane
and Kings Meadows
.
As part of the National Highway, there have been many on-going changes to the highway since the 1980s.
The southern outlet in Launceston was built, bypassing many Launceston suburbs, allowing motorists to travel from the Breadalbane roundabout, almost directly to the city centre, at full highway speed. Around the same time, the towns of Ross, Oatlands and Kempton were bypassed.
In 2002, a railway line underpass was constructed near Symmons Plains, south of Perth, to create a grade separated
rail crossing on the highway itself. Significant numbers of overtaking
lanes have also been extended or created.
there is currently a 9.5 km (5.9 mi) bypass
under construction on the southern section of the highway. There has been mounting pressure for the Highway to be upgraded to a four-lane carriageway for 20 years to fall in line with the Auslink network of highways such as the Hume
and Pacific
as it is Tasmania's most heavily travelled stretch of long highway. Plans for Perth and Campbell Town to also be bypassed have also been proposed, but they are unlikely to occur in the near future.
The State and federal Liberal Parties
have pledged $400 million to the funding of a dual-carriageway highway between Hobart and Launceston. The Liberal Party's claim is that when taking into account the Brighton Bypass
, the Southern Outlet and the 34 km of overtaking lanes, there are 120 km (74.6 mi) of single-carriageway road on the Midland Highway. The Australian Labor Party
stated that the 400 million-dollar budget is grossly underfunded, and could not possibly be constructed for that price.
The Liberal Party defended the accusations that the $3 million/km budget is too low by stating that they are not planning any new road alignments or bypasses, just adding new lanes to the existing alignment. They have not stated if they plan to include grade separation
or T-junctions and roundabout
s. Should both the federal and state Liberal Parties win the next elections, they plan to upgrade this remaining stretch of road from 2014 progressively.
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
's major inter-city highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
s, running for 176 kilometres (109.4 mi) between Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
and Launceston
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
. It is part of the AusLink
AusLink
AusLink was an Australian Government land transport funding program, established in June 2004 and administered by the Department of Transport and Regional Services. In 2009 it was replaced with the Nation Building Program under the Nation Building Program Act 2009...
National Network and is a vital link for road freight to transport goods to and from the two cities.
It represents a major north-south transportation corridor in Tasmania and has the route 1 designation as part of the National Highway
National Highway (Australia)
thumb|right|150px|The National Highway Shield in NSW, QLD, WA, NT & TAS.The National Highway is a system of roads connecting all the States and Territories of Australia, and is the major network of highways connecting Australia's largest and most important cities.The National Highway was...
.
The highway consists of various traffic lane arrangements, the most common being two lanes – one in each direction, with overtaking options and at-grade intersection
At-grade intersection
An at-grade intersection is a junction at which two or more transport axes cross at the same level .-Traffic management:With areas of high or fast traffic, an at-grade intersection normally requires a traffic control device such as a stop sign, traffic light or railway signal to manage conflicting...
s. At both the Launcestion and Hobart sections of the highway there are small portions of grade-separated dual carriageway
Dual carriageway
A dual carriageway is a class of highway with two carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation...
.
History
Surveyor Grimes marked out the track from Hobart to Launceston in 1807, and Governor Macquarie followed the route in 1811 when he visited the colony accompanied by his wife. The party took five and a half days to complete the journey.Macquarie again visited the colony in 1821, when the road was fit for a carriage, but his journal records many different sections, and it was not until 1831 that the first regular coach service was operated by J. E. Cox.
The first mailman, Robert Taylor, was appointed in 1816, he walked, leaving Hobart and Launceston on alternate Sundays and carrying the mail in a pack.
The first record of movement between the two centres was in 1821 when then Governor Lachlan Macquarie
Lachlan Macquarie
Major-General Lachlan Macquarie CB , was a British military officer and colonial administrator. He served as the last autocratic Governor of New South Wales, Australia from 1810 to 1821 and had a leading role in the social, economic and architectural development of the colony...
selected sites for towns on the highway.
It was known as the 'Main Road' or 'Hobart Road' for most of its history. In the 1930s it became known as the Midland Highway, and in the 2000s - it also had 'The Heritage Highway' label applied to it.
The route of the highway originally ran between Hobart and Launceston
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
, and passed through the localities which are now known as:
Bridgewater
Bridgewater, Tasmania
Bridgewater, Tasmania, is one greater Hobart's northern-most suburbs, located 19 km from the city. It is situated on the eastern shore of the Derwent River. It is a suburb of the local government area of the Municipality of Brighton....
, Brighton
Brighton, Tasmania
Brighton is a suburb 27km north of Hobart, in Tasmania, Australia. It lies between Pontville and the outer Hobart suburb of Bridgewater on the Midland Highway. At the 2006 census, Brighton had a population of 3,145.-History:...
, Pontville
Pontville, Tasmania
Pontville is a small rural community north of Hobart, in the south east of Tasmania, Australia. At the 2006 census, Pontville had a population of 2,166....
, Mangalore
Mangalore, Tasmania
Mangalore is a small town in southern Tasmania. Equidistant between the township of Bagdad, Tasmania and the City of Glenorchy suburb of Brighton, it is located the on the Midlands Highway 32km from the capital city of Hobart...
, Bagdad
Bagdad, Tasmania
Bagdad is a small town north of Hobart, Tasmania. It is located in the Southern Midlands Council.In the days of the horse and buggy, Bagdad was an important rest area and horse-changing place for those continuing their journey up Constitution Hill...
, Dysart, Kempton
Kempton, Tasmania
Kempton is a township on the Midland Highway north of Hobart, Tasmania. At the 2006 census, the town had a population of 358. A low rainfall region of plains and low hills, it is mostly used for grazing sheep....
, Melton Mowbray, Jericho
Jericho, Tasmania
Jericho is an historical village in the centre of Tasmania, Australia, located between Hobart and Launceston off the Midland Highway. Founded in 1816, it is one of the oldest townships in Australia....
, Oatlands
Oatlands, Tasmania
Oatlands is an important historical village built on the shores of Lake Dulverton in the centre of Tasmania, Australia. Oatlands is located 84 km north of Hobart and 115 km south of Launceston on the Midland Highway...
, Antill Ponds, Woodbury, Tunbridge
Tunbridge, Tasmania
Tunbridge is a town in the midlands of Tasmania, Australia that was originally a coaching stop on the Hobart to Launceston road, now known as the Midlands Highway. It was named after one of its three original coaching inns, the Tunbridge Wells, which in turn was named after Tunbridge Wells in...
, Ross
Ross, Tasmania
Ross is a historic town in the Midlands of the state of Tasmania in Australia. Situated on the Macquarie River, Ross is located 78 km south of Launceston and 117 km north of Hobart...
, Campbell Town
Campbell Town, Tasmania
Campbell Town is a town in Tasmania, Australia, located on the Midland Highway. At the 2006 census, the town had a population of 772.Campbell Town was originally one of the four garrison towns linking Hobart and Launceston. Today, it acts as the only major rest area on the Midland Highway, with...
, Conara Junction, Cleveland, Epping Forest, Perth
Perth, Tasmania
Perth is a town in the north-east of Tasmania, Australia. It lies 20 km south of Launceston, on the Midland Highway. The town has a population of 1,984 and is averaging a 1% increase per year . Perth is part of the Northern Midlands Council. Federal Lyons MHR Dick Adams also has an office...
, Breadalbane
Breadalbane, Tasmania
Breadalbane Situated on the Midlands Highway, from Launceston, Breadalbane was named by Governor Macquarie after the Earl of Breadalbane, his wife's cousin. Earlier the district was known as 'Cocked Hat', 'The Springs' and 'Brumby's Plain'....
and Kings Meadows
Kings Meadows, Tasmania
King's Meadows is a suburb in the south of Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, with a greater amount of shops than any other suburb within Launceston. It also has the largest shopping centre within Launceston, the Kings Meadows High School, and a hotel....
.
As part of the National Highway, there have been many on-going changes to the highway since the 1980s.
The southern outlet in Launceston was built, bypassing many Launceston suburbs, allowing motorists to travel from the Breadalbane roundabout, almost directly to the city centre, at full highway speed. Around the same time, the towns of Ross, Oatlands and Kempton were bypassed.
In 2002, a railway line underpass was constructed near Symmons Plains, south of Perth, to create a grade separated
Grade separation
Grade separation is the method of aligning a junction of two or more transport axes at different heights so that they will not disrupt the traffic flow on other transit routes when they cross each other. The composition of such transport axes does not have to be uniform; it can consist of a...
rail crossing on the highway itself. Significant numbers of overtaking
Overtaking
Overtaking or passing is the act of one vehicle going past another slower moving vehicle, travelling in the same direction, on a road. The lane used for overtaking another vehicle is almost always a lane further from the road shoulder — that is, to the left in places that drive on the right,...
lanes have also been extended or created.
Future
As part of the Southern Transport Investment ProgramSouthern Transport Investment Program
The Southern Transport Investment Program is a road and rail transport plan for the northern outskirts of Hobart instituted in 2007 by the Tasmanian state government. It outlines most prominently an extensive upgrade of the Midland Highway, including the Brighton Bypass, the Bagdad Bypass and the...
there is currently a 9.5 km (5.9 mi) bypass
Brighton Bypass
The Brighton Bypass is a A$164 million bypass currently under construction on the Midland Highway between Bridgewater and Pontville, just north of Hobart in southern Tasmania. Construction of the 9.5 km federally funded Dual carriageway started in April 2009, and is expected to be completed in...
under construction on the southern section of the highway. There has been mounting pressure for the Highway to be upgraded to a four-lane carriageway for 20 years to fall in line with the Auslink network of highways such as the Hume
Hume Highway
The Hume Highway/Hume Freeway is one of Australia's major inter-city highways, running for 880 km between Sydney and Melbourne. It is part of the Auslink National Network and is a vital link for road freight to transport goods to and from the two cities as well as serving Albury-Wodonga and...
and Pacific
Pacific Highway (Australia)
The Pacific Highway is a major transport route along part of the east coast of Australia and is part of Australia's national route 1.It is 960 km long and links Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, to Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, along the coast, via Gosford, Newcastle, Taree, Port...
as it is Tasmania's most heavily travelled stretch of long highway. Plans for Perth and Campbell Town to also be bypassed have also been proposed, but they are unlikely to occur in the near future.
The State and federal Liberal Parties
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
have pledged $400 million to the funding of a dual-carriageway highway between Hobart and Launceston. The Liberal Party's claim is that when taking into account the Brighton Bypass
Brighton Bypass
The Brighton Bypass is a A$164 million bypass currently under construction on the Midland Highway between Bridgewater and Pontville, just north of Hobart in southern Tasmania. Construction of the 9.5 km federally funded Dual carriageway started in April 2009, and is expected to be completed in...
, the Southern Outlet and the 34 km of overtaking lanes, there are 120 km (74.6 mi) of single-carriageway road on the Midland Highway. The Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
stated that the 400 million-dollar budget is grossly underfunded, and could not possibly be constructed for that price.
The Liberal Party defended the accusations that the $3 million/km budget is too low by stating that they are not planning any new road alignments or bypasses, just adding new lanes to the existing alignment. They have not stated if they plan to include grade separation
Grade separation
Grade separation is the method of aligning a junction of two or more transport axes at different heights so that they will not disrupt the traffic flow on other transit routes when they cross each other. The composition of such transport axes does not have to be uniform; it can consist of a...
or T-junctions and roundabout
Roundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
s. Should both the federal and state Liberal Parties win the next elections, they plan to upgrade this remaining stretch of road from 2014 progressively.
See also
- Highways in AustraliaHighways in AustraliaThis is a list of highways in Australia, listed alphabetically along with each highway's route number and location. Note that some highways service more than one state or territory.-Route numbering systems:...
- List of highways in Tasmania
- Southern Transport Investment ProgramSouthern Transport Investment ProgramThe Southern Transport Investment Program is a road and rail transport plan for the northern outskirts of Hobart instituted in 2007 by the Tasmanian state government. It outlines most prominently an extensive upgrade of the Midland Highway, including the Brighton Bypass, the Bagdad Bypass and the...
- Brighton Transport HubBrighton Transport HubThe Brighton Transport Hub is a $79 million Intermodal Transport hub currently under construction in conjunction with the Brighton Bypass on the northern fringes of Hobart, in southern Tasmania. The Bridgewater Industrial Estate was chosen as the preferred site of the Inland port because of its...