Peak-hour gridlock crawl

Perfect storm of rain, crashes and school crowds

of Hobart commuters were late to work on Thursday morning after a series of crashes, combined with the return of back-to-schooltraffic and wet road conditions, wrought havoc in peak-hour.

Some travellers reported a doubling of their usual journey time as three separate crashes brought traffic flow to a crawl in some areas. A single-vehicle crash on the Huon Highway at

Lower Longley was reported by police at 7.12am, while a crash involving multiple vehicles occurred in the city-bound lanes of the Tasman Bridge just before 8am.

Another crash was reported just before 10am on the Channel Highway at Kingston where a vehicle rolled, but the occupants escaped serious injury.

Tasmanian federal Labor MP Julie Collins slammed what she described as slow progress on congestion-busting projects identified in the Hobart City Deal, which was signed almost two years ago.

This included building a fifth lane on the Southern Outlet, establishing a ferry service on the River Derwent and improving traffic flow on the Tasman

Highway from Sorell to the Tasman Bridge.

“With school going back this week, Hobart commuters are facing growing congestion and the cost of the Liberals’ infrastructure failures,’’ she said.

RACT chief member experience officer Stacey Pennicott said the way to tackle traffic congestion was to provide better transport links.

Ms Pennicott said the RACT wanted to see timelines on projects like the River Derwent ferry trial, park and ride facilities at Kingston and upgrades to the Southern Outlet.

The federal government said key projects including the new Bridgewater Bridge, upgrades to the Tasman Highway and River Derwent trial ferry service was nearing actiHUNDREDS vation. Assessment of tenders to operate the service is underway and it is expected to be operational this year.

Infrastructure and Transport Minister Michael Ferguson said many projects were being progressed, including the Southern Outlet, South East Traffic Solution and the new Bridgewater Bridge.

Mr Ferguson said a contract for the ferry service was expected to be awarded soon.