More than one million dollars is being spent to make the West Tamar Highway safer for cyclists.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It comes almost seven years after a young cyclist was hit by a car and killed on the highway.
Lewis Hendey was on a training ride with his best friend in December 2013 when he was struck by a ute.
The tragedy sparked calls from cycling groups for minimum distances when passing riders.
In 2016, those laws were introduced.
Now, the government has invested $1.5 million to create an even safer riding environment, with improvement works underway between Launceston and Legana.
The works will include surfacing repairs, increased space on road shoulders, line marking adjustments, warning signs, and head start boxes at signal-controlled intersections where possible along a 10-kilometre stretch of the highway between Margaret Street and Legana Park Road.
IN OTHER NEWS:
It was something northern cycling groups had been pushing for, and was ultimately promised by the state government during the last election.
Bicycle Network Tasmania spokeswoman Alison Hetherington said the West Tamar Highway was a popular route for cyclists, and the changes would make it a more comfortable ride.
"It is something the government promised to do during the last election, so it is good to see some of the cycling projects starting to appear," she said.
"One of the things they are looking at is putting in head start boxes at intersections, and they are really important because they allow people riding to be seen by traffic.
"It can be very stressful when you are riding to not have the space to move over or to get a head start, so what the government is implementing will help make the ride more comfortable."
Infrastructure Minister Michael Ferguson revealed the works as part of a six-point plan to address high-priority projects along the West Tamar Highway.
"Strong support for improved cycling facilities in the area was identified during the West Tamar Corridor Study consultation, with feedback providing valuable insights into what improvements the community wanted," Mr Ferguson said.
"The improved cycling facilities will promote active transport, which provides health and environmental benefits, as well as reducing congestion by providing an alternative to driving."
The highway works were expected to be completed by the end of the year, weather permitting.
What do you think? Send us a letter to the editor:
Melissa Mobbs
A journalist with more than a decade of experience, Melissa Mobbs currently works as the Deputy Editor for The Examiner Newspaper in Launceston, and has a strong background in reporting on crime and the justice system. Send tips to Melissa.Mobbs@examiner.com.au or on Twitter via @melissamobbs.
A journalist with more than a decade of experience, Melissa Mobbs currently works as the Deputy Editor for The Examiner Newspaper in Launceston, and has a strong background in reporting on crime and the justice system. Send tips to Melissa.Mobbs@examiner.com.au or on Twitter via @melissamobbs.
