Civil construction company awarded Grove intersection contract – but locals say plan falls short
A civil construction company has been awarded the contract to upgrade the intersection of the Huon Highway and Mountain River Road at Grove – but the plan has fallen well short of what many locals had asked for.
Andrew Walter Construction will carry out bus stop and pedestrian safety improvements at the site, with work set to begin in August and expected to be complete by early 2027, weather permitting.
The intersection has a long history of safety concerns, and after 2,828 letterbox drops and a formal consultation process spanning May 26 to June 22, 2025, some community members feel the final design does not reflect what they requested.
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Kerry Vincent said the plan had been developed alongside the community.
“We have worked alongside the Huon Valley Council and local community since 2025 to seek feedback on the initial concept design options for upgrading the intersection,” Minister Vincent said.
“Feedback highlighted safety concerns, including speed limits, limited visibility and pedestrian crossings near bus stops as the community’s highest priorities.”
The Huon Highway speed limit through Grove was reduced from 100 kilometres an hour to 80km/h on March 28, 2025.
Upgrades will include relocating the two existing bus stops approximately 100 metres south of the intersection, a new pedestrian island for two-stage highway crossing, street lighting, and new footpaths and a road barrier to separate pedestrians from traffic.
But community members have pointed out that during consultation they were presented with four concept options – and none of them were ultimately selected.
Instead, the Department of State Growth’s own feedback summary confirms that after an internal departmental workshop, a fifth ‘hybrid’ design was developed and finalised without further community input.
The department has stated the intersection is ‘suitable for current traffic volumes’ and that major upgrades would take too long – a position that has frustrated many locals who had called for a roundabout or an underpass.
Parking was also raised by 17.5 per cent of respondents as a key concern, with many requesting park-and-ride facilities. The final design does not include parking, with only a future shoulder widening investigation noted – but the Department of State Growth says additional parking is being actively developed with the Huon Valley Council for delivery at a later stage.
Community members will be watching to see whether that commitment materialises.
Questions have been raised about federal funding, with the Australian Government having committed $40 million for upgrades along the Huon Highway corridor – and the department’s documentation noting that future improvements to the Grove intersection may be considered as part of that work.
That has prompted community members to ask why the intersection is currently being limited to $3 million in state funding.
The Tasmanian Government has committed $3 million to cover improvements at both Grove and the Huon Highway intersection with Leslie Road in Leslie Vale, with design and consultation on the latter scheduled to begin in August.
In the Legislative Council in April, Minister Vincent confirmed the Leslie Vale intersection upgrade is being funded through the federal corridor mechanism, describing the $40 million pool as having flexibility to move between projects.
It remains unclear whether any of that federal funding has been or will be directed to the Grove intersection, where the immediate works are covered by the $3 million state commitment.
The department has also committed to a review of the speed limit on the Huon Highway corridor following the project’s completion.
“I look forward to seeing these upgrades delivered,” Minister Vincent said.
