Bass Highway, Tasmania

The Bass Highway is a highway in Tasmania, Australia. It connects the three cities across the north of the state – Burnie, Devonport and Launceston. The road was named due to its proximity to the Bass Strait. It is a part of the National Highway, designated as National Highway 1, together with the Midland and Brooker highways in Tasmania.

Bass Highway

The Bass Highway in Burnie
General information
TypeHighway
Length273 km (170 mi)
Route number(s)
Former
route number
State Route 2[1]
Major junctions
East end Midland Highway
Prospect, Launceston, Tasmania
 
  • Meander Valley Road
  • Illawarra Road
  • Meander Valley Road
  • Birralee Road
  • Highland Lakes Road
  • Mole Creek Road
  • Railton Road
  • Gilbert Street
  • Port Sorell Road
  • Stony Rise Road
  • Turners Beach Road
  • Castra Road
  • Gawler Road
  • Pine Road
  • Mount Street
  • Murchison Highway
  • Mount Hicks Road
  • Stanley Highway
  • Irishtown Road
West end Arthur River Road
Comeback Road
Marrawah, Tasmania
Location(s)
RegionTasmania
Major settlementsDeloraine, Devonport, Ulverstone, Burnie, Wynyard, Smithton
Highway system

The highway passes through or past the following localities:

From here, the highway ceases to be part of the National Highway, but continues as the Bass Highway (A2) through the following towns:

Upgrades

The name "Bass Highway" was in use by 1938.[2] Since the mid-1970s the highway has undergone significant upgrades that have included bypasses and deviations, duplications and grade separations, particularly between Burnie and Launceston. On 30 March 1977, ‘stage A’ of the ‘Burnie Highway System’ was opened to traffic. This stage connected the Bass Highway east of the town with Alexander Street by an elevated roadway over the port access road and rail lines.[3] Shortly after, on 19 April 1977, the bypass of Devonport was completed with the opening of the final section between Middle Road, Devonport and Don, referred to in that year's Main Roads Annual Report as the ‘Devonport to Don Freeway’. This section was an extension of the earlier Victoria Bridge project.[4] Three years later, the Ulverstone bypass was completed and opened to traffic in August 1980.[5] The duplication of the highway from Wivenhoe, east of Burnie, to Chasm Creek was completed during the 1983–84 financial year,[6] and was followed in May 1984 with the opening of 500 metres of ‘stage B' of the Burnie Highway System. This section duplicated the highway along North Terrace.[7] In September 1986, all four lanes over the complete length of ‘stage B’ of the ‘Burnie Expressway’ (‘Burnie Highway System’) were brought into operation.[8] Throughout 1986 and 1987, sections of the highway were progressively duplicated and opened to traffic between Don (Devonport) and the Forth River, with the last section completed in June 1987. This was followed by completion of duplication between Forth River and Ulverstone in late 1987.[9] In 1988, at the eastern terminus of the Bass Highway, a new alignment was opened to connect directly to the then new Launceston Southern Outlet, which itself had opened to traffic in 1985. Known as the Prospect bypass, this alignment was opened to traffic on 23 January 1988.[10] West of Burnie, the Smithton bypass was opened to traffic in May 1988.[11] The Deloraine Bypass was opened on 8 June 1990. The project was carried out over five years and cost a total of A$19 million. The bypass opening was performed by the Federal and State ministers for Land Transport and Roads and Transport respectively.[12]

Other bypasses have included Carrick and Hadspen in the late 1980s and the longest stretch of highway, the Hagley-Westbury bypass, which was completed in 2001. The 'old' highway alignment between Deloraine and Hadspen is now known as Meander Valley Road,[13] and is promoted as a tourist route.

The Bass Highway is, like Bass Strait, named for explorer George Bass.

Major intersections

LGALocationkm[14]miDestinationsNotes
LauncestonProspect00.0 Midland Highway (National Highway 1) – north – Launceston /
south-east – Hobart
Eastern end of Bass Highway.
Continues south-west as National Highway 1.
Prospect / Prospect Vale
midpoint
2.0–
2.8
1.2–
1.7
Meander Valley Road (B54) – north-west – Prospect Vale /
south-west – Travellers Rest /
Westbury Road – north-east – Prospect Vale
Eastbound exit via Westbury Road
Meander ValleyTravellers Rest4.8–
5.0
3.0–
3.1
Meander Valley Road (B54) – west – Hadspen /
north-east – Prospect /
Pateena Road (C531) – south – Longford
No eastbound exit from or westbound entry to Bass Highway
South Esk River8.9–
9.0
5.5–
5.6
Bridge over river (name not known)
Meander ValleyCarrick10.8–
11.6
6.7–
7.2
Illawarra Road (B52) – north-west – Carrick /
south-east – Longford
14.99.3 Bishopsbourne Road (C513) – north – Carrick /
south – Bishopsbourne
Liffey River15.89.8Bridge over river (name not known)
Meander ValleyCarrick16.1–
17.1
10.0–
10.6
Oaks Road (C511) – north-east – Carrick /
south-west – Bracknell
18.311.4 Whitemore Road (C508) – north-east – Carrick /
south-west – Whitemore
Whitemore Creek21.8–
21.9
13.5–
13.6
Bridge over creek (name not known)
Meander ValleyHagley23.1–
23.5
14.4–
14.6
Hagley Station Lane (C507) – north-east – Hagley
south-west – Whitemore
No eastbound exit from or westbound entry to Bass Highway
Hagley / Westbury
midpoint
26.0–
27.6
16.2–
17.1
Meander Valley Road (B54) – west – Westbury /
east – Hagley
No westbound entry to Bass Highway
Westbury30.2–
30.9
18.8–
19.2
Birralee Road (B72) – north-west – Birralee /
William Street (B72) – south-east – Westbury
Deloraine42.5–
43.2
26.4–
26.8
Lake Highway (A5) – south – Deloraine
Meander River44.627.7Bridge over river (name not known)
Meander ValleyDeloraine46.3–
48.0
28.8–
29.8
Mole Creek Road (B12) – south – Mole Creek /
Weetah Road (C710) – north – Weetah
Westbound entry via Emu Bay Road
Elizabeth Town52.832.8 Bengeo Road (C163) – south – Red Hills
55.334.4 Railton Road (B13) – west – Railton
55.334.4 Parkham Road (C711) – north-east – Parkham
LatrobeSassafras77.047.8 Chapel Road (C713) – north – Harford
80.149.8 East Sassafras Road (C706) – east – Sassafras /
Cutting Road – west – Sassafras
From the eastern part of Sassafras, route C706 runs north on Greens Creek Road to Harford
81.450.6 Native Plains Road (C153) – south – Railton
Sassafras / Latrobe
midpoint
82.451.2 Oppenheims Road (C704) – north, then east – Harford
Latrobe85.553.1 Gilbert Street to Mersey Main Road (B19) – west – Spreyton
86.8–
87.0
53.9–
54.1
Moriarty Road (C702) – east – Moriarty /
south-west – Latrobe
DevonportLatrobe / East Devonport
midpoint
90.7–
91.2
56.4–
56.7
Port Sorell Road (B74) – north-east – Port Sorell /
south-west – Latrobe
East Devonport92.9–
93.4
57.7–
58.0
Tarleton Street – north – East Devonport /
River Road – south – Ambleside
Mersey River93.5–
93.7
58.1–
58.2
Victoria Bridge
DevonportDevonport / Miandetta
midpoint
93.9–
94.5
58.3–
58.7
Formby Road – north – Devonport /
to Devonport Road – south – Miandetta
95.1–
95.7
59.1–
59.5
Middle Road – north – Devonport /
south-west – Miandetta
Stony Rise96.8–
98.0
60.1–
60.9
Stony Rise Road (B19) – south-east – Spreyton /
north-west, then south-west as Forth Road – Forth /
Don Road – north-east – Devonport
Don River98.461.1Bridge over river (name not known)
Central CoastLeith105.865.7 Leith Road (C132) – south-west, then south – Forth /
Braddons Lookout Road (C189) – north-east, then south – Forth
Forth River106.1–
106.2
65.9–
66.0
Bridge over river (name not known)
Central CoastTurners Beach107.3–
108.4
66.7–
67.4
Forth Road (B19) – south – Forth /
Turners Beach Road – north – Turners Beach
Westbound entry via Westella Drive
Ulverstone110.5–
111.4
68.7–
69.2
Eastland Drive (C142) – north, then west – Ulverstone
111.9–
112.1
69.5–
69.7
Main Street (B15) – north-west – Ulverstone /
Castra Road (B15) – south – Upper Castra
No eastbound entry to or exit from Bass Highway
113.8–
114.6
70.7–
71.2
Lovett Street (B17) – north – Ulverstone /
Gawler Road (B17) – south – Gawler
Westbound entry via Adaihi Street
River Leven115.1–
115.3
71.5–
71.6
Bridge over river (name not known)
Central CoastWest Ulverstone116.5–
117.2
72.4–
72.8
South Road (C142) – east – Ulverstone
Penguin125.2–
125.8
77.8–
78.2
Pine Road (B17) – south-west – Riana /
Mission Hill Road – north-east – Penguin
Howth / Sulphur Creek
midpoint
130.781.2 Nine Mile Road (C118) – north-west, then south – West Pine
Heybridge132.982.6 River Avenue (C117) – south, then south-west to Cuprona Road – Cuprona
Blythe River133.4–
133.5
82.9–
83.0
Bridge over river (name not known)
Central CoastHeybridge133.983.2 Minna Road (C113) – south-west – Stowport
BurnieWivenhoe138.185.8 Stowport Road (C102) – south-west – Stowport
Emu River139.186.4Bridge over river (name not known)
BurnieSouth Burnie139.2–
139.3
86.5–
86.6
Old Surrey Road (C112) – south – Emu Heights
Burnie141.2–
141.4
87.7–
87.9
Mount Street (B18) – south – Upper BurnieBass Highway changes from National Highway 1 to A2
Parklands / Burnie
midpoint
142.588.5 West Park Grove (C108) – south-west – Park Grove
Camdale147.391.5 East Cam Road (C109) – south – East Cam
Cam River147.6–
147.7
91.7–
91.8
Bridge over river (name not known)
Waratah-WynyardSomerset147.891.8 Murchison Highway (A10) – south – Queenstown
149.092.6 Raglan Street to Seabrook Road (C241) – south, then west – Mount Hicks
Doctors Rocks153.895.6 Old Bass Highway (C240) – north-west – Wynyard
Wynyard156.797.4 Mount Hicks Road (B26) – south – Mount Hicks /
Mount Hicks Road (no shield) – north – Wynyard
160.899.9 Deep Creek Road (C239) – west, then south – Yolla
161.8100.5 Oldina Road (C237) – south-west – Oldina
162.4100.9 Calder Road (C235) – south-west – Calder
162.8101.2 Inglis Street (C240) – south-east – Wynyard
Inglis River163.5101.6Bridge over river (name not known)
Waratah-WynyardFlowerdale164.9102.5 Preolenna Road (C229) – west – Preolenna
Flowerdale / Table Cape /
Boat Harbour tripoint
167.4104.0 Tollymore Road (C234) – north-east – Table Cape
Boat Harbour168.3104.6 Gates Road (C231) – south (to route C229) – Flowerdale
171.6106.6 Port Road (C232) – north – Boat Harbour Beach
Sisters Creek176.3109.5 Myalla Road (C229) – south – MyallaFrom Preolenna C229 turns west and then north, returning to the Bass Highway via Myalla
Circular HeadRocky Cape191.0118.7 Rocky Cape Road (C227) – north-east – Rocky Cape
Detention River192.3119.5Bridge over river (name not known)
Circular HeadBlack River204.4127.0 Mawbanna Road (C225) – south-east – Mawbanna
Black River205.8127.9Bridge over river (name not known)
Circular HeadWiltshire208.6129.6 Back Line Road (C221) – south, then west – Forest
Wiltshire / Forest / Stanley
tripoint
212.3131.9 Mengha Road (C219) – south – Mengha /
Stanley Highway (B21) – north- Stanley
Smithton / Forest
midpoint
221.2137.4 Back Line Road (C221) – east – ForestFrom Forest C221 runs west, returning to the Bass Highway at the Smithton boundary
Smithton223.7139.0 Irishtown Road (B22) – south – Irishtown
224.4139.4Brittons Road – north-west – Smithton
225.9140.4 Trowutta Road (C217) – south – Edith Creek
Nelson Street (C215) – north – Smithton
From Smithton C215 runs west as Montagu Road, eventually intersecting with C213 at Marrawah
Duck River227.6141.4Bridge over river (name not known)
Circular HeadRedpa265.6165.0 Comeback Road (C213) – north, then west- Marrawah
Marrawah272.6169.4 Arthur River Road (C214) – south-west, then south – Arthur River /
Comeback Road (C213) – north-east, then east – Redpa
Western end of Bass Highway.
From Redpa C213 runs west, returning to the Bass Highway in Marrawah.
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. Former State Route Numbering System in Tasmania, Ozroads: the Australian Roads Website. Retrieved on 30 January 2008.
  2. "Damage by Floods Repaired". The Mercury. Vol. CXLVIII, no. 21, 015. Tasmania, Australia. 2 April 1938. p. 16. Retrieved 19 November 2021 via National Library of Australia.
  3. Report for year 1976–1977, Parliament of Tasmania, Department of Main Roads, 1978, p. 14
  4. Report for year 1976–1977, Parliament of Tasmania, Department of Main Roads, 1978, p. 13
  5. Report for year 1980–1981, Parliament of Tasmania, Department of Main Roads, 1982, p. 20
  6. Report for year 1983–1984, Parliament of Tasmania, Department of Main Roads, 1985, p. 21
  7. Report for year 1983–1984, Parliament of Tasmania, Department of Main Roads, 1985, p. 23
  8. Annual Report 1986-1987, Tasmania, Department of Main Roads, 1987, p. 24
  9. Annual Report 1986-1987, Tasmania, Department of Main Roads, 1987, p. 23
  10. Annual Report 1987-1988, Tasmania, Department of Main Roads, 1988, p. 30
  11. Annual Report 1987-1988, Tasmania, Department of Main Roads, 1988, p. 37
  12. Annual Report 1989-90, Tasmanian Government, Department of Roads and Transport, 1990, p. 5
  13. "Tasmanian Road Routes – B54" (PDF). Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment. May 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  14. Google (4 November 2018). "Bass Highway" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 4 November 2018.

41°02′47″S 145°53′41″E

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