South Arm Highway Upgrade

2023 Community Consultation

The initial consultation for the whole South Arm Highway Upgrade project was completed in December 2023.

We have collated the feedback we gathered and created a report (PDF 191.0 KB).

October 2023 – November 2023: We worked on and near the road to take some measurements, and collecting information about the animals, plants, soil and heritage in the area to help with our planning.

December 2023: Community consultation, both in-person and online, for sharing the early concept plan for the South Arm Highway Upgrade (Pass Road to Acton Road).

May 2024 – early 2025: Preparing draft designs.

Proposed construction periods

The works will be constructed in stages, with indicative timing below:

• South Arm Highway/Acton Road Intersection Upgrade: Late 2025.
• Pass Road to Oakdowns: From 2025.

Oakdowns to Acton Road: the Department of State Growth will monitor traffic flows to determine when the upgrade needs to be completed.

February 2025

We are upgrading the intersection at South Arm Highway and Acton Road, near Lauderdale Primary School.

You can view the Junction Layout diagram (PDF 1.8 MB).

A map showing the planned South Arm Highway upgrade

The upgrade is funded by the Australian Government and Tasmanian Government, with funding to start building the upgrade available from 2025.

Will the gravel path between Lauderdale and Oakdowns be extended?

The current scope of work for the intersection upgrade does not include a shared path beyond what is shown on the Consultation Plan. However, the design of the upgrade considers potential future shared path connections. Clarence City Council has been exploring options for a gravel track between Oakdowns Parade and Lauderdale ahead of future highway upgrades, and we will continue engaging with them on this.

Will the intersection upgrade impact traffic flow on Ringwood Road?

No, traffic modelling indicates that the intersection upgrade will not impact the operation of Ringwood Road. The new traffic signals will be coordinated to help manage the flow of traffic on South Arm Road. The intersection’s ability to accommodate more vehicles will also be improved with the addition of more lanes, including two straight-ahead lanes and one right-turn lane into Acton Road. We anticipate that there will not be significant queuing issues.

Why isn’t the safety barrier on the school side of South Arm Road being extended?

Extending the safety barrier is currently outside the scope of the Acton Road Intersection project, however, we recognise the community are concerned about this. The Department of State Growth is assessing the feasibility of extending the barrier in this location and is exploring potential options.

Why does the intersection upgrade include two lanes in each direction?

The Acton Road and South Arm Road intersection upgrade has been designed to integrate with any future work between Oakdowns and Lauderdale, providing ease of connection to future upgrades.

Why were pedestrian overpasses or underpasses not considered?

A signalised intersection with pedestrian crossings was chosen as the most practical solution for this location. Overpasses and underpasses were not considered feasible due to space constraints, high costs, and ongoing maintenance requirements. Signalised crossings provide a more accessible and direct route for all users, including those with mobility impairments, while avoiding the safety and usability concerns often associated with underpasses.

Why is this project needed?

We studied the road and transport needs between Pass Road and Acton Road in 2020. The City of Clarence, Metro Tasmania and the Department of Education, Children and Young People helped with our study.

This showed we need to upgrade the road to support traffic growth, help make travel times more predictable, and improve safety.

What space is needed for upgrading the South Arm Highway from Pass Road to Acton Road?

Initial planning shows us that we can fit two new lanes in the existing space next to the road from Pass Road to Bayview Secondary College.

There is not enough room to widen the road from two to four lanes through the Rokeby commercial area without impacting on businesses and property access, so we are investigating building a new section of road south-west of South Arm Road, between Bayview Secondary College and Horsham Road.

We will also be taking measurements between Oakdowns Parade and Acton Road to help us work out how we might fit extra lanes in this area.

Will upgrading the South Arm Highway or the Acton Road intersection impact my property?

We need to gather more information to help prepare initial designs. Once we have developed a design, we will consult further with any property owners.

I have a proclaimed road corridor on my property title. What does this mean?

The department sometimes sets aside land for future road developments. These are called Proclamation Plans. This is noted on a property’s title. Title searches can be done before or after buying property.

Land to support a new road from Rokeby to Lauderdale was set aside in 1994. The department can purchase property in a proclaimed road corridor.

Proclaimed road corridors can also be removed if planning studies identify that they are no longer needed.

What does upgrading the road mean for Bayview Secondary College?

Initial planning shows us that we can fit the two new lanes in the existing space next to the road from Pass Road to Bayview Secondary College.

This allows the college and the City of Clarence to continue developing their sports precinct master plan.

What will the speed limit be once the highway is upgraded from Pass Road in Rokeby to Acton Road in Lauderdale?

The speed limit currently varies along the highway. During the design process we’ll assess what speeds can be safely achieved.

What is the school zone speed on South Arm Road near Lauderdale Primary School and where does it apply?

South Arm Road, near Lauderdale Primary School, is subject to a school zone.

This means that road users travelling in this location on school days between 7:00 am and 9:00 am and 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm are expected to travel at 40 km per hour.

There are two solar-operated, digital signs placed before and after the school in the road verges of the closest lane.

Please note that a school zone speed limit also applies on Acton Road near the Lauderdale Primary School.

Why is the speed limit from the Acton Road junction to the service station near Dona Road 60 kph?

In September 2023, the Commissioner for Transport approved a speed reduction in this location based on the characteristics of the road, the amount of traffic moving in and out of businesses on the eastern side, the volume of through traffic, and community requests.

This was supported by the Tasmanian Speed Zoning Guidelines.