Kingston Bypass
Encyclopedia
The Kingston Bypass is a proposed Southern Outlet
extension that would see the bypassing
of Kingston
, Tasmania
. The original concept was first mentioned in Hobart's Transportation study of 1965
.
The total cost of the bypass has increased from the original estimate of $
30 million to over $
41 million, which doesn't take into account any required works on the Hobart end of the Southern Outlet.
. This study recommended the development of the Southern Outlet
as the primary access route to Kingston
and Huonville
. The study also recommended that as part of the Southern Outlet, a bypass of Kingston be provided and that the future road connection should be provided between the Channel Highway
south of Kingston and Blackmans Bay.
The Southern Outlet opened to traffic in 1968. In the absence of a Kingston Bypass, the Southern Outlet's southern Terminus was the Kingston Interchange. In 1983, a bypass corridor for the future Channel Highway was proclaimed, west of the existing Alignment. In 1986 Algona Road
was opened as a 2 lane road. Algona Road was constructed for a task such as connecting Kingston Bypass to Blackmans Bay and has available space dedicated for a second carriageway. The proclaimed bypass corridor runs from the Algona Road/Channel Highway Junction to the Kingston Interchange
.
Additionally in 1986, a Bypass of the Kingston CBD was provided by construction of a link road between the Kingston Interchange and Summerleas Road.
. Additional land needed to be proclaimed for the purpose of providing a grade separated interchange
after the recommendations put forth by the Kingston and Environs Transport Study.
The northern terminus of the bypass is south of the Kingston Interchange
and located on the western side of the existing Channel Highway. The southern terminus of the bypass shares a new roundabout with Algona Road
. The roundabout is the largest in Tasmania. To allow for the future duplication of the Highway and provide an alignment consistent with the adjoining Southern Outlet the geometric alignment of the Bypass has been Designed to 100km/h speed limit. It is expected that the posted speed limit on the bypass will be 80km/h.
The project is currently ahead of schedule and is expected to be completed by late 2011.
Southern Outlet, Hobart
The Southern Outlet is a 13km dual-carriageway limited-access highway that connects Hobart to the southern parts of Tasmania, Australia...
extension that would see the bypassing
Bypass (road)
A bypass is a road or highway that avoids or "bypasses" a built-up area, town, or village, to let through traffic flow without interference from local traffic, to reduce congestion in the built-up area, and to improve road safety....
of Kingston
Kingston, Tasmania
Kingston is a township and region on the outskirts of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Nestled 15 km south of the city between and around several hills, Kingston is the council seat of its wider municipality, the Kingborough Council, and today serves as the gateway between Hobart and the...
, Tasmania
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...
. The original concept was first mentioned in Hobart's Transportation study of 1965
Hobart Area Transportation Study
The Hobart Area Transportation Study was a comprehensive transport plan released in 1965 for the purpose of examining the transport needs of the Hobart Metropolitan area over the proceeding 20 years...
.
The total cost of the bypass has increased from the original estimate of $
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
30 million to over $
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
41 million, which doesn't take into account any required works on the Hobart end of the Southern Outlet.
History
The bypass was originally proposed in the Hobart's Transportation study of 1965Hobart Area Transportation Study
The Hobart Area Transportation Study was a comprehensive transport plan released in 1965 for the purpose of examining the transport needs of the Hobart Metropolitan area over the proceeding 20 years...
. This study recommended the development of the Southern Outlet
Southern Outlet, Hobart
The Southern Outlet is a 13km dual-carriageway limited-access highway that connects Hobart to the southern parts of Tasmania, Australia...
as the primary access route to Kingston
Kingston, Tasmania
Kingston is a township and region on the outskirts of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Nestled 15 km south of the city between and around several hills, Kingston is the council seat of its wider municipality, the Kingborough Council, and today serves as the gateway between Hobart and the...
and Huonville
Huonville, Tasmania
Huonville is a town on the Huon River, in the south-east of Tasmania, Australia. The town lies within the Huon Valley Council area. It lies 38 km south of Hobart on the Huon Highway. At the 2006 census, Huonville had a population of 1,806....
. The study also recommended that as part of the Southern Outlet, a bypass of Kingston be provided and that the future road connection should be provided between the Channel Highway
Channel Highway
The Channel Highway is a regional highway that travels south from Hobart To Huonville, Tasmania, Australia. The Channel Highway starts from the end of Sandy Bay Road and travels south toward Huonville via Taroona, Kingston, Huntingfield, Margate, Kettering, Woodbridge and Cygnet. The shortest way...
south of Kingston and Blackmans Bay.
The Southern Outlet opened to traffic in 1968. In the absence of a Kingston Bypass, the Southern Outlet's southern Terminus was the Kingston Interchange. In 1983, a bypass corridor for the future Channel Highway was proclaimed, west of the existing Alignment. In 1986 Algona Road
Algona Road
Algona Road is a major link road, connecting the residents of Blackmans Bay to Kingston in Southern Tasmania, Australia. The road was constructed in 1986 as a Two lane road, with provision for a second carriageway when needed. A Roundabout was installed on the Junction to the Channel Highway in...
was opened as a 2 lane road. Algona Road was constructed for a task such as connecting Kingston Bypass to Blackmans Bay and has available space dedicated for a second carriageway. The proclaimed bypass corridor runs from the Algona Road/Channel Highway Junction to the Kingston Interchange
Kingston Interchange
The Kingston Intechange is a roundabout interchange which connects the Southern Outlet with the Huon Highway and the Channel Highway at Kingston, within the greater area of Hobart, Tasmania....
.
Additionally in 1986, a Bypass of the Kingston CBD was provided by construction of a link road between the Kingston Interchange and Summerleas Road.
Design
The location of corridor proclamation was influenced by the Hobart Area Transportation StudyHobart Area Transportation Study
The Hobart Area Transportation Study was a comprehensive transport plan released in 1965 for the purpose of examining the transport needs of the Hobart Metropolitan area over the proceeding 20 years...
. Additional land needed to be proclaimed for the purpose of providing a grade separated interchange
Interchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
after the recommendations put forth by the Kingston and Environs Transport Study.
The northern terminus of the bypass is south of the Kingston Interchange
Kingston Interchange
The Kingston Intechange is a roundabout interchange which connects the Southern Outlet with the Huon Highway and the Channel Highway at Kingston, within the greater area of Hobart, Tasmania....
and located on the western side of the existing Channel Highway. The southern terminus of the bypass shares a new roundabout with Algona Road
Algona Road
Algona Road is a major link road, connecting the residents of Blackmans Bay to Kingston in Southern Tasmania, Australia. The road was constructed in 1986 as a Two lane road, with provision for a second carriageway when needed. A Roundabout was installed on the Junction to the Channel Highway in...
. The roundabout is the largest in Tasmania. To allow for the future duplication of the Highway and provide an alignment consistent with the adjoining Southern Outlet the geometric alignment of the Bypass has been Designed to 100km/h speed limit. It is expected that the posted speed limit on the bypass will be 80km/h.
Construction
Work Commenced on the Kingston Bypass in February, 2010. In March, 2010, several elected members of local government expressed concern the Project was stalling, after the apparent lack of construction work taking place the preceeding month. in July, 2010, five thousand Aboriginal artefacts were found on the proposed route of the Kingston bypass, in the area immediately south of Alona Road This discovery included scarred stones, which were used to make tools, and stone blades and flakes. A stone quarry was also found. The Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources and the Tasmanian Aboriginal came to an agreement that the Highway's alignment in that area would be shifted slightly to allow for preservation of the site. The southbound lane of the bypass was opened for 5 days starting November 21 2011, as a temporary diversion to enable work to be completed on the on and off-ramps of the south-bound lanes of the bypass.The project is currently ahead of schedule and is expected to be completed by late 2011.
See Also
- Transport in HobartTransport in HobartThe city of Hobart, Tasmania is served by a wide variety of transport. While the city's main form of transport is private transport on the road network, transport is also available by bus, ferry and aircraft. A suburban train service operated between Hobart and Brighton from the 1870s until 31...
- Hobart Area Transportation StudyHobart Area Transportation StudyThe Hobart Area Transportation Study was a comprehensive transport plan released in 1965 for the purpose of examining the transport needs of the Hobart Metropolitan area over the proceeding 20 years...
- Southern OutletSouthern Outlet, HobartThe Southern Outlet is a 13km dual-carriageway limited-access highway that connects Hobart to the southern parts of Tasmania, Australia...
- Channel HighwayChannel HighwayThe Channel Highway is a regional highway that travels south from Hobart To Huonville, Tasmania, Australia. The Channel Highway starts from the end of Sandy Bay Road and travels south toward Huonville via Taroona, Kingston, Huntingfield, Margate, Kettering, Woodbridge and Cygnet. The shortest way...
- Algona RoadAlgona RoadAlgona Road is a major link road, connecting the residents of Blackmans Bay to Kingston in Southern Tasmania, Australia. The road was constructed in 1986 as a Two lane road, with provision for a second carriageway when needed. A Roundabout was installed on the Junction to the Channel Highway in...