The Federal and Tasmanian governments have opened public feedback on proposed designs for upgrades to the Arthur Highway between Sorell and Port Arthur, with the drawings covering new overtaking lanes at Dunalley, Taranna and Forcett, intersection work at Forcett and Eaglehawk Neck, and better pedestrian access at Dunalley. Comment runs from 9:00am on Thursday 27 August 2026 until 9:00am on Friday 25 September 2026.
Roads & Infrastructure first reported the consultation, putting the funding at $200 million from the Federal Government and a further $50 million from the Tasmanian Government for the Arthur Highway Upgrades.
That’s a $250 million commitment on a single regional corridor, which makes it one of the bigger civil packages heading for southern Tasmania’s contractors over the next few years.
What’s actually on the drawings
The designs came out of high-priority projects identified in the Arthur Highway Road Improvement Strategy, published in April 2025.
State Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Kerry Vincent said the road matters to more than just the tourist run down to Port Arthur.
“As a gateway to some of Southern Tasmania’s most beautiful and historic attractions, the Arthur Highway is a vital transport link for residents, businesses, and our state’s visitors,” Vincent said.
On the safety case for the work, Vincent said: “We are excited to release proposed designs for improvements to the Arthur Highway, which will improve safety, efficiency and reliability along the corridor, while supporting future growth and ensuring the highway continues to meet the needs of all road users.”
Three overtaking lanes, two intersections, one footpath job
Each of those items is a different kind of job, and anyone pricing subcontract work off this corridor should read them separately.
Overtaking lanes at Dunalley, Taranna and Forcett mean widening the formation on one side of an existing live road. That’s clearing and topsoil strip, cut and fill to get the batters right, drainage and culvert extensions under the new width, subgrade and pavement layers, then surfacing, guardrail and line marking. All of it happens under traffic, which means traffic management is a line item on the job from day one rather than an afterthought.
Intersection upgrades at Forcett and Eaglehawk Neck are a different beast. Intersections are where the services live, so survey, service location and any relocation work tends to sit on the critical path before a single load of fill turns up.
The Dunalley pedestrian access work is the small one on the list and the one most likely to suit a local crew: kerb and channel, footpath, and the associated civil works through a township rather than out on open highway.
Design stage now, tools later
This is a feedback round on designs, not a tender. Vincent said the comment period feeds the next round of work.
“We encourage the community to review and have their say on the designs, with feedback playing an important role in the next stage of planning and design for each project,” he said.
For anyone weighing up whether to put on another apprentice or buy a second float, the timing matters. Feedback closes in September 2026, then designs get revised, then packages get scoped and tendered. Work on the ground follows that, not next month. What a consultation round does tell you is that the money is real and the corridor is the one to watch.
The realistic read for local civil outfits is subcontract and supply work off a head contract: earthworks plant, traffic control, drainage crews, guardrail and fencing, line marking, quarry product and cartage. Sorell and the Tasman Peninsula don’t carry a deep bench of civil crews, so the labour and plant question is likely to be answered from Hobart and further afield.
Where to look at the designs
The drawings can be viewed online or in person at the Sorell and Tasman council offices, at Sorell and Nubeena. Feedback closes at 9:00am on Friday 25 September 2026, and it’s a hard cutoff rather than a rolling one.
Funding splits between the Australian Government’s infrastructure department on the federal side and the Tasmanian Government on the state side.
This story rests on a single published report, and the detail of what gets built, in what order, and how the packages get carved up hasn’t been announced.
If you drive the Arthur Highway for work, or you’d like a crack at the civil packages that come out the other end of it, the consultation window is the one chance to tell them where the current design falls short before it gets locked in. Once a design goes out for tender, the arguing is over.
Frequently asked questions
When does feedback close on the Arthur Highway upgrade designs?
Feedback opened at 9:00am on Thursday 27 August 2026 and closes at 9:00am on Friday 25 September 2026, a hard cutoff.
What work is planned for the Arthur Highway?
The proposed designs include new overtaking lanes at Dunalley, Taranna and Forcett, intersection upgrades at Forcett and Eaglehawk Neck, and better pedestrian access at Dunalley.
How much funding is behind the Arthur Highway upgrades?
The project is backed by $200 million from the Federal Government and $50 million from the Tasmanian Government, a combined $250 million.
Where can I view the Arthur Highway designs?
The drawings can be viewed online or in person at the Sorell and Tasman council offices, in Sorell and Nubeena.
Sourced from Roads & Infrastructure. Original article.
