Now is the time to develop road infrastructure and reduce the number of heavy vehicles traversing the city, according to the Launceston Chamber of Commerce.
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The chamber’s chief executive, Jan Davis, said the community and the City of Launceston needed to find a solution to the amount of heavy vehicles driving through the city.
Her comments come as Toll Group puts its development application for a $20 million transport hub on hold, while it listens to residents’ concerns.
While Ms Davis supports Toll’s expansion, she said truck traffic remained an issue.
“Clearly any investment in the city is a good investment and Toll have very very clear and unquestionable reasons for their proposal,” she said.
“Whilst their location is logistically sensible for them, the traffic routes through the middle of the city are going to become unsustainable.”
She suggested resurrecting a proposal for an Eastern ring road around the city and another river crossing.
“That’s something I think we need to get onto the agenda, particularly while the government federally is so focused on infrastructure,” she said.
“These are the things that are going to take years getting anywhere.”
Ms Davis said it was time for a community discussion “for what would be the best outcome”.
“As we redevelop bits of the city we need to keep an eye on what the future needs are as well,” she said.
“I’d be looking at some sort of planning exercise that involves a longer term and broader look at the traffic.”
In 2014 the Launceston's Transport Futures strategy was completed.
The report was designed to “determine the most appropriate corridors for moving traffic to ease congestion”.