Huon Highway

{{Short description|Highway in Tasmania, Australia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}} {{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}

{{Infobox Australian road | road_name = Huon Highway | state = tas | type = highway | image = SandflyInterCh.jpg | caption = The Huon Highway at Sandfly | length = 116 | est = | route = {{AUshield|TAS|A6}} A6 [[Kingston, Tasmania|Kingston]] to [[Southport, Tasmania|Southport]] | former = {{AUshield|S|1}} State Route 1<ref name="ozroads">{{cite web |title=Former State Route Numbering System in Tasmania |url=http://www.ozroads.com.au/TAS/routenumbering/old/stateroutes.htm |website=Ozroads: The Australian Roads Website |access-date=16 June 2025}}</ref> | direction_a = North | end_a = {{Plainlist| * {{AUshield|TAS|A6}} [[Southern Outlet, Hobart|Southern Outlet]] [[Kingston, Tasmania|Kingston]], Tasmania }} | exits = {{Plainlist| * {{AUshield|TAS|B64}} Sandfly Road * {{AUshield|TAS|B68}} [[Channel Highway]] }} | direction_b = South | end_b = Kingfish Beach Road Lady Bay Road [[Southport, Tasmania|Southport]], Tasmania | through = {{TAScity|Sandfly|Grove|Huonville|Franklin}}, Port Huon, {{TAScity|Geeveston|Dover}} }}

The '''Huon Highway''' is a major highway in southern [[Tasmania]], [[Australia]], forming part of route {{AUshield|TAS|A6}}. It runs approximately {{convert|116|km}} from [[Kingston, Tasmania|Kingston]] to [[Southport, Tasmania|Southport]], making it the southernmost sealed highway in Australia. The route connects [[Hobart]] with the [[Huon Valley]], serving as the primary road corridor through several towns including [[Huonville]], [[Franklin, Tasmania|Franklin]], [[Geeveston]], and [[Dover]].

==Route== The highway begins at the junction with the [[Southern Outlet, Hobart|Southern Outlet]] at Kingston and travels southwest through Sandfly, Grove, and Huonville. It continues along the eastern side of the [[Huon River]] through Franklin and Port Huon, passes through Geeveston and Dover, and terminates near Southport at Lady Bay Road.

Traffic is heaviest between Kingston and Huonville, with lower volumes in more remote southern sections.

==History and alignment changes== The original Huon Highway alignment followed what is now designated as {{AUshield|TAS|B64}} (Huon Road), a narrow and winding route around [[Mount Wellington (Tasmania)|Mount Wellington]].

Major upgrades began in the 1960s, including the construction of the [[Southern Outlet, Hobart|Southern Outlet]] in 1968 to improve access between Hobart and Kingston.<ref name="southernoutlet">{{cite web |title=Southern Outlet |url=https://www.transport.tas.gov.au/road/projects/southern_outlet_upgrade |website=Department of State Growth |access-date=16 June 2025}}</ref> Subsequent realignments bypassed winding sections near Grove, Port Huon, and Dover.

==Recent upgrades==

===Kingston Bypass=== The Kingston Bypass opened in 2011 to divert highway traffic around Kingston's central business district. The 2.8 km dual carriageway was jointly funded by the state and federal governments at a cost of $41 million.<ref name="kingstonbypass">{{cite web |title=Kingston Bypass Project Completion Report |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1382351446/view |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250616120400/https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1382351446/view |archive-date=16 June 2025 |publisher=Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources (Tas.) |date=February 2012 |access-date=16 June 2025 }}</ref>

It includes grade-separated interchanges, noise barriers, and shared pedestrian and cycling infrastructure. The bypass connects the Southern Outlet to the Huon Highway at Huntingfield.

===Summerleas Road intersection=== In 2016, a grade-separated interchange was constructed where the Huon Highway intersects with Summerleas Road. This followed years of crash data showing 48 collisions from 2005 to 2015.<ref name="stategrowth">{{cite web |title=Huon Highway / Summerleas Road Intersection Upgrade |url=https://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0031/59845/department20of20state20growth20submission-huon20highway20summerleas20road20intersection20upgrade.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250616105101/https://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0031/59845/department20of20state20growth20submission-huon20highway20summerleas20road20intersection20upgrade.pdf |archive-date=16 June 2025 |publisher=Department of State Growth, Tasmania |date=2016 |access-date=16 June 2025 }}</ref>

The $21.2 million project added new roundabouts, safety barriers, lighting, and cycling infrastructure. Work was completed in 2018.

===Huon Link Road=== Opened in March 2025, the Huon Link Road is a bypass around central [[Huonville]] designed to reduce congestion on Main Street. It connects Orchard Avenue and the Huon Highway to Flood Road, providing a more direct route for traffic to and from [[Cygnet, Tasmania|Cygnet]].<ref name="pulsetasmania">{{cite web |title=New Huonville bypass to ease town centre congestion after 15-year wait |url=https://pulsetasmania.com.au/news/new-huonville-bypass-to-ease-town-centre-congestion-after-15-year-wait/ |publisher=Pulse Tasmania |date=21 March 2025 |access-date=16 June 2025 }}</ref>

Construction began in 2023, with flood mitigation works and bridge upgrades included in the $29 million joint state-federal funding package. Minor landscaping and road works continued into mid-2025.

==Future planning== As of 2025, the Tasmanian Government is continuing to plan safety and capacity improvements along the Huon Highway corridor, including:

* Intersection upgrades at Ranelagh and Franklin * Additional overtaking lanes between Huonville and Dover * Drainage and pavement upgrades in flood-prone areas * Improved integration with public transport services

These priorities align with the Department of State Growth’s broader Southern Transport Strategy.

==Major intersections== * [[Southern Outlet, Hobart|Southern Outlet]] (Kingston) * B68 [[Channel Highway]] * B64 Sandfly Road (to Longley and Fern Tree) * C632 Arve Road (to Tahune Airwalk) * C635 Esperance Coast Road (via Dover)

==See also== {{portal-inline|Australian Roads}} * [[Highways in Australia]] * [[List of highways in Tasmania]] * [[Road transport in Tasmania]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Highways in Tasmania]]