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 study predicted the majority of the proposed traffic corridors would need to be operational by the 1985 Target year.
Ultimately the majority of the study's recommendations were brought to fruition in some form or another. The Tasman Highway (Tasman Bridge to Airport), the Brooker Highway (North of Berriedale) and the the Southern Outlet were influenced in their construction by this study's recommendations for grade-separated, limited access Freeway designs.
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In 1963, the Department of Public Works, the Transport Commission and Hobart City Council initiated the first urban transportation study conducted in Australia. The Study was undertaken by Wilbur Smith and Associates[1] during the years 1963 and 1964, and the findings and suggestions were published in 1965.[2][3]
The Hobart Area Transport study was engaged through detailed surveys from the public, analysing traffic statistics and analysing past traffic trends, in an attempt to predict traffic patterns in Hobart with a Target year of 1985 - 20 years from the time of publication.[3]
The Hobart area Transportation Study proposed the construction of four Freeways and one Expressway, a significant upgrade and expansion of the Brooker Highway, a duplication of the Tasman Bridge, the possible creation of an additional Derwent River crossing and several smaller projects within the Hobart CBD. The study also encouraged greater use of roads through public and private transport and discouraged the use of Hobart's passenger train services as a primary mode of Transport in the city.[3] The study was composed of the following principle segments:
A proposed Link north of the Hobart CBD extending from the Southern Outlet at Davey Street via the foot hills of West Hobart, crossing the Brooker Highway between Melville and Brisbane Streets, and extending through the Queens Domain to the Tasman Highway.[1] Termed the Northside Freeway, it's function was intended to relieve local streets of excess traffic. The Northside Freeway was proposed to be a fully grade separated Freeway. Momentum for the this Freeway stalled which has resulted in other proposals for a Hobart Bypass.[1][4]
A recommended connection to join the Southern Outlet with the Tasman Highway with the use of the then-proposed One-way couplet of Davey and Macquarie streets as complimentary arterial roads. At the time, separate viaducts were proposed to be constructed over the rail lines east of Brooker Avenue to provide better access from the south side of the Hobart CBD to the Tasman Highway. At the time the study was released, Hobart CBD's roads were all two way with no direct way to get between the Tasman Highway/Brooker Highway and the Southern Outlet. The construction of the Sheraton was the catalyst for the new couplet road system. By this time the need for a viaduct over the rail yards had diminished as that section of the rail yards had fallen into disuse.
This proposal was suggested to be a limited access route parallel to the Derwent River just east of the Queens Domain. This route was designed to connect the Tasman Bridge with the Brooker Highway as a six-lane divided highway. This Freeway was also intended to function as an alternative to the Brooker Highway and improve connections to the bridge over the Derwent river.[3] This route was constructed as a Single carriageway Limited-access highway, featuring At-grade intersections.
At the time of the study's release, parts of the Brooker Highway were already operational. This study proposed that the highway be expanded to a six-lane divided Highway extending from a connection with the Northside Freeway north to Elwick Road in Glenorchy. From this point to Berriedale, minor improvements would have been required to achieve complete four-lane freeway operation. From Berriedale, The continuation of the Highway to Granton would follow a new corridor bypassing the suburbs of Claremont and Austins Ferry.[3] Specific points for Grade separated Interchanges were suggested at Burnett Street, Cleary's Gates Road, New Town Road, Hopkins Street, Derwent Park Road, Elwick/Goodwood Roads, Main Road, Berriedale Road, Claremont Link Road, and Abbotsfield Roads.[3] The extension to Granton was completed as a four-lane divided Highway from Berriedale, however the grade separation proposal for the southern section of the Highway has not been addressed with several new traffic lights installed since this plan was released.
Sections of the Southern Outlet were already under construction as a Two-lane expressway at the time of this study's release. The study recommended construction of a four-lane divided highway to the connect to the Huon Highway and also proposed bypassing Kingston.[3] Today the Southern Outlet is a Grade separated dual carriageway Highway between Davey Street, Hobart and the Huon Highway Interchange at Kingston. The final remaining section of this proposal is currently under construction as the Kingston Bypass.[5][6]
The Grosvenor Expressway was proposed to commence at Sandy Bay Road (Lord Street) and travel towards the Northside Freeway connecting with the Freeway near Liverpool Street. This bypass route was designed with the intention of alleviating traffic from Sandy Bay Road.[3]
Upon the release of this study, The Tasman Bridge had only recently replaced the Hobart Bridge as the primary Derwent River crossing, and it was perceived that more traffic would make use of the new bridge than first estimated. The study proposed the duplication of the Tasman bridge.[3] However the Tasman Bridge disaster occurred not long after this plan was released and it was then decided to upgrade the existing bridge rather than duplicate it and place a new river crossing at a different location.[2]
The Southeastern Freeway was proposed to travel from Rosny Hill To Howrah running Parallel to Clarence Street.[3] However, this Highway was deemed to be unrealistic in that it was too expensive and would have come in close proximity to Schools and other vital services. The idea of providing a major Arterial road to Howrah was revisited with the release of the "Hobart Transport Revision" several years later.[2] This new proposal entailed construction of a Bellerieve Bypass,[2] which was constructed in the mid 80's.
The Eastern Outlet (known today as the Tasman Highway) was proposed to extend as a Freeway from Rosny Hill to Sorell.[3] The construction of this Freeway was not believed to be warranted before 1985.[3] The Tasman Highway's construction has been influenced by this study with bypasses constructed at Warrane, Mornington and Cambridge since the publication of this study. Additionally the Tasman Highway has also been duplicated to the Hobart Airport since the study's release.
The Hobart Area Transportation study was also released with estimates of daily Traffic of the proposals for the Target year of 1985.[3]
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