Safety concerns have been raised by the community and the West Tamar Council amid increased traffic congestion on the highway.

The Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania has also called for a long-term plan for the highway. The body's executive general manager Stacey Pennicott said the RACT's 2018/2019 budget submission identified the "immediate need" for works on the road between McEwans and Atkinsons roads, particularly the southbound lane.

The highway has been a hot spot for crashes in recent years, some of them serious and some fatal, which is more than enough concern that something needs to be done about the highway.

These concerns were raised in 2017, with residents labelling the highway 'a joke' and calling on West Tamar Mayor Christina Holmdahl for help.

On Saturday, State Growth released its plan for the highway, which includes several widening and extra lane options for sections of the highway.

The proposed upgrades include the sections of West Tamar Highway from north of Rosevears Drive to Gravelly Beach Road, Atkinsons Road to Waldhorn Drive, Exeter to Batman Highway, and Motor Road junction and each project will need its own timelines and approvals.

The highway has been in need of attention for some time - especially as Riverside and Legana continue to expand and be hot spots for growth in Northern Tasmania.

Consultation on each section of the upgrades will be paramount to ensure the projects meet the needs of the residents who live there. An interactive map has been set up by State Growth to help illustrate how each upgrade will be rolled out.

It is critical that people take the time to have their say because if these upgrades are implemented correctly, it will have flow-on effects.

Not only for people who live and in the communities along the river (and the highway) but for those people who commute to Launceston and back.