Brooker Highway | |
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The busiest point of the Brooker Highway, The traffic lights at Risdon Road | |
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General information | |
Type | Highway |
Length | 17 km (11 mi) |
Opened | 1954 |
Route number(s) | ![]() (Hobart–Granton) |
Former route number | ![]() |
Major junctions | |
South end | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() | |
North end | ![]() |
Location(s) | |
Region | Hobart |
Major suburbs | Glebe, Lutana, Goodwood, Glenorchy, Montrose, Rosetta, Berriedale, Claremont, Austins Ferry |
Highway system | |
The Brooker Highway is a highway in the Australian state of Tasmania. As one of Hobart's three major radials, the highway connects traffic from the city centre with the northern suburbs and is the major road connection to the cities and towns of northern Tasmania. With an annual average daily traffic of 48,000, [2] the highway is one of the busiest in Tasmania. The Brooker Highway has recently been declared part of the National Highway.
The Brooker Highway runs approximately 17 km (11 mi) north from the central business district, through the northern suburbs of Hobart, and through the City of Glenorchy, bypassing commercial and industrial centres along the original Main Road. It is primarily a four lane (dual-carriageway) highway, and apart from the Domain Highway junction, only the northern sections of the highway have grade separated junctions. The remainder of the junctions are regulated by traffic light intersections.
While the highway is substantially less congested than in other states during peak hours, it is more congested off-peak than roads in Queensland, Western Australia, and almost as congested as those in New South Wales. It is thus a busy road by any Australian standard. [3] The Brooker Highway is currently[ when? ] below the acceptable levels of service, and congestion issues are expected to worsen significantly over the next 20 years with the highway already approaching its designed capacity. [4] A current proposal to convert the South Line rail corridor for use as a light rail system has the potential to alleviate the Brooker Highway's traffic problems. [3] [4]
The first stage of the Brooker Avenue was constructed as a dual carriageway four-lane road in 1954 between Risdon Road, New Town, and Elwick Road, Glenorchy. The north-bound and south-bound roads were divided by a wide median strip with trees planted at intervals. At various points the median strip was dissected by a short roadway to enable traffic to U-turn to the opposite direction.
In 1957 work began on extending the road into Hobart city. This work dissected part of the former racecourse grounds at Cornelian Bay, and the obliteration of Batman Place which was the location of huts built for affordable housing. The road was built on an embankment which crossed the Main Line Railway and Bellevue Parade via a concrete bridge. The road skirted around the edge of the Queens Domain to an area known as Cleary's Gates. At the intersection with the Domain Highway, a grade-separated intersection was completed which is commonly known as the 'clover-leaf'. Between here and the city the new road consumed much of Park Street.
At Liverpool St a new roundabout, named 'Railway Roundabout' (as it was adjacent to Hobart Passenger Rail Terminal), was completed in 1960. In 1965, the Hobart Area Transportation Study was released and entailed large development plans for the Brooker Highway, that included extension as far as Granton. By 1966 the road was extended from Elwick Road to the Main Road at Berriedale. This entailed some shoreline reclamation works at Montrose Bay.
In 1977 the highway was further extended, taking the road from a new interchange at Berriedale Road to the Claremont Link Road. This section was initially a single-lane road each-way but with a third climbing lane in the north direction. In 1981 the final section between Claremont Link Road and Midland Highway at Granton was commenced. This was opened in 1983 as a single-lane road each-way, and with a long climbing lane in the south direction, commencing from Black Snake Lane and merging in near Hilton Road, in Austins Ferry. In 1992 the four-lane dual carriageway highway that stands today was completed through to Granton and the Bridgewater bridge. [5]
The Brooker Highway was built as a replacement to the original Midland Highway route between Hobart city and Granton, which passed along Elizabeth Street, New Town Road and Main Road, through the built up areas of New Town, Moonah, Glenorchy, Rosetta, Montrose, Claremont and Berriedale. [5] This was the first major highway construction in the Hobart City region, and was named Brooker Highway, after the Minister for Transport at the time of the conception of the project, Edward Brooker. Although the road's formal name is Brooker Avenue, it is more commonly referred to as Brooker Highway whilst the section between Berriedale and Granton is often referred to as the Northern Outlet.
In April 2007, the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources announced plans to replace the sub-standard rusted light poles between Risdon Road and Clearys Gates Road. [6] These are over 40 years old and were the first lights on the Highway, which sparked some concern from the Hobart City Council. They argue that the light poles are in good condition and are a significant feature of the Brooker Highway entrance to Hobart. While the Hobart City Council supports the replacement, they have written to Infrastructure Minister Jim Cox asking him to consider retaining the ornate arms on modern pole bases. [6]
On 4 April 2010 18-year-old pilot Patrick Humphries made world headlines [7] by using the normally busy highway as an emergency landing strip after running out of fuel. [8] Humphries was unhurt from the accident and no vehicles were involved in the incident. [9]
Before 2016, Elwick Road and Goodwood Road formed two separate t-junctions on opposite sides of the Brooker Hwy offset by around 100m. The upgrade undertaken between January 2016 and May 2017 aligned Elwick Road with Goodwood Road so that one set of traffic lights could be removed. Extra lanes were also added.
At the same time the adjacent Brooker Highway intersection, Howard Road / Renfrew Circuit was also converted from a five-exit two-lane roundabout to a traffic-lights controlled intersection. The fifth exit from the former Brooker Highway roundabout, Timsbury Road, is now accessed from Howard Rd. [10] The contract for the works, awarded to Hazell Bros was worth $32 million. [11]
In February 2011, the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources revealed intentions to within 3 years "Finalise design options for Domain Highway intersection and increased lane capacity between Domain Highway and Risdon Road". [12] This intention was reaffirmed in an October 2017 submission by the Tasmanian Government to Infrastructure Australia: "Brooker Highway - Risdon Road to Domain Highway - no cost estimate, concept designs to be prepared." [13]
The Department of State Growth released a report titled Hobart Congestion Traffic Analysis 2016 prepared by traffic engineer Keith Midson. Under long-term solutions, the report considered the Liverpool St intersection with the Brooker Hwy, also known as the 'railway roundabout'. The report stated "The railway roundabout is a major cause of congestion... A possible solution is the grade separation of the roundabout." [14]
Recently the government came under pressure from the community to improve pedestrian access over the highway at Goodwood and eliminate the stairs primarily for the benefit of the elderly and handicapped.
The highway starts in the Hobart CBD at the junction with Eastern Outlet (A3, Tasman Highway), Davey Street (A6) and Macquarie Street (A6). The Tasman Highway heads east over the Tasman Bridge, past the Airport and eventually leads to the east coast of the state, while Davey Street leads towards the Southern Outlet (A6), which in turn heads south towards Kingston and Huonville (Davey and Macquarie are one-way streets - Davey Street flows south-west, and Macquarie Street flows north-east through the CBD).
Apart from the connection to Davey and Macquarie Streets, the major intersection with streets in the CBD is the three-lane roundabout at the north-east end of Liverpool Street. Because it was built in close proximity to the main railway station at the time, the roundabout was, and continues to be, called the "Railway Roundabout". The sunken garden in the centre of the roundabout functions as a pedestrian thoroughfare, with under-road tunnels connecting to the two sides of Liverpool Street, the original site of the railway station to the north-east, and to the Domain and the suburb of The Glebe to the north-west. The roundabout was originally just an un-controlled intersection, but with the gradual increase in traffic, particularly from the eastern shore of the Derwent, it was often in grid-lock at peak travel times. Traffic lights were introduced and alleviated the situation, and later construction of the direct links from the Tasman Bridge to Davey and Macquarie Streets further relieved the pressure. Other streets from the CBD provide access to the highway, but for much of its length to the city boundary at Risdon Road it is limited access road.
Through the City of Glenorchy the highway has large multi-lane intersections, at Risdon Road, Elwick Road and Derwent Park Road. The highway is in a reasonable condition for its age, but does experience congestion for certain periods during the day.
Trees line the middle nature strip for several kilometres, and fencing prevents pedestrian access at various points. The Highway makes its way past The Domain, Cornelian Bay Hockey Grounds, Rugby Park, The Royal Hobart Showgrounds, Tattersalls Park and the Derwent Entertainment Centre. At the northern end (at Granton) it connects to the Midland Highway (National Highway 1) (which heads north towards Launceston) and the Lyell Highway (A10) (which takes motorists towards the west coast).
LGA | Location | km [15] | mi | Destinations | Notes |
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Hobart | Hobart | 0 | 0.0 | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Highway terminus; no access from the highway to Davey Street or Macquarie Street |
0.3– 0.4 | 0.19– 0.25 | ![]() | Traffic light controlled roundabout | ||
1.1 | 0.68 | Warwick Street – Hobart, North Hobart | |||
North Hobart–Glebe boundary | 1.3 | 0.81 | Burnett Street south-west / Shoobridge Street east – North Hobart, West Hobart, Glebe | Shoobridge Street intersection is left-in/left-out only; Complete access between Brooker Highway and Burnett Street at traffic lights | |
New Town | 3.0– 3.2 | 1.9– 2.0 | ![]() | Trumpet interchange | |
Hobart–Glenorchy boundary | New Town–Moonah–Lutana tripoint | 4.1 | 2.5 | Risdon Road – New Town, Lenah Valley, Cornelian Bay, Lutana, Risdon | |
Glenorchy | Moonah–Lutana boundary | 4.9 | 3.0 | Bowen Road south / Ashbolt Crescent east – Moonah, Lutana | |
Moonah–Lutana–Derwent Park tripoint | 5.6 | 3.5 | Derwent Park Road – Derwent Park, Moonah, Ridson, Prince of Wales Bay | ||
Derwent Park | 6.3 | 3.9 | Lampton Avenue – Derwent Park, Prince of Wales Bay | Lampton Avenue east of intersection is left-in/left-out only | |
Glenorchy–Goodwood boundary | 7.1 | 4.4 | Howard Road south / Renfrew Court north – Derwent Park, Goodwood | ||
7.5 | 4.7 | ![]() | |||
Glenorchy | 7.6 | 4.7 | Elwick Road – Glenorchy, Tolosa Park | ||
8.0 | 5.0 | Loyd Road – Derwent Entertainment Centre | |||
Rosetta | 9.7– 10.1 | 6.0– 6.3 | Main Road – Berriedale, Rosetta | Left-in/left-out intersection for each carriageway | |
Berriedale | 10.6 | 6.6 | ![]() | Partial diamond interchange: no exit southbound | |
Berriedale–Claremont–Chigwell tripoint | 12.4 | 7.7 | Claremont Link Road – Chigwell, Claremont, Cadbury | Diamond interchange | |
Claremont | 13.6 | 8.5 | Abbotsfield Road – Claremont | Left-in/left-out intersection for each carriageway | |
14.8 | 9.2 | Hilton Road – Austins Ferry | Left-in/left-out access southbound | ||
15.1 | 9.4 | Upper Hilton Road – Austins Ferry | Left-in/left-out access northbound | ||
Granton | 17.9 | 11.1 | Black Snake Road south / Main Road east – Granton, Austins Ferry | Left-in/left-out access northbound; entrance ramp southbound | |
18.3 | 11.4 | Main Road – Granton, Austins Ferry | Southbound exit only | ||
18.5 | 11.5 | ![]() ![]() | Roundabout; northern highway terminus | ||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi |
Councils of Tasmania are the 29 administrative districts of the Australian state of Tasmania. Local government areas (LGAs), more generally known as councils, are the tier of government responsible for the management of local duties such as road maintenance, town planning and waste management.
Glenorchy is a suburb of Hobart, in the state of Tasmania, Australia. Glenorchy is bound by the River Derwent to the east, Mount Wellington to the west, Hobart City to the south and Brighton to the north. The city officially begins at Creek Road New Town, in Hobart's northern suburbs, and includes, Moonah, Derwent Park, Lutana, Goodwood, Montrose, Rosetta, Berriedale, Chigwell, Claremont and Austins Ferry. It is the seat of the local government area of the same name, the City of Glenorchy.
The Midland Highway is one of Tasmania's major inter-city highways, running for 176 kilometres (109 mi) between Hobart and Launceston. It is part of the AusLink National Network and is a vital link for road freight to transport goods to and from the two cities. It represents a major north–south transportation corridor in Tasmania and has the route 1 designation as part of the National Highway. The highway consists of various traffic lane arrangements, the most common being two lanes – one in each direction, with overtaking options and at-grade intersections. At both the Launceston and Hobart sections of the highway there are small portions of grade-separated dual carriageway.
The Tasman Highway is a highway in Tasmania, Australia. Like the Midland Highway, it connects the major cities of Hobart and Launceston – however it takes a different route, via the north-eastern and eastern coasts of the state. The Highway also acts as a major commuter road to Hobart residents living on the eastern side of the Derwent River. The designation "Tasman Highway" arises from its location facing the Tasman Sea – named, like the state itself, after Abel Tasman. The highway is one of the longest in Tasmania - 410 km (250 mi), with an average traveling time of 41⁄2 hours.
Glenorchy City Council is a local government body in Tasmania, and one of the five municipalities that constitutes the Greater Hobart Area. The Glenorchy local government area has a population of 50,411, covering the suburbs north of central Hobart on the western shore of the Derwent River, including its namesake suburb, Glenorchy.
Davey Street a major one way street passing through the outskirts of the Hobart City Centre in Tasmania, Australia. Davey street is named after Thomas Davey, the first Governor of Van Diemen's Land. The street forms a one-way couplet with nearby Macquarie Street connecting traffic from the Southern Outlet in the south with traffic from the Tasman Highway to the east and the Brooker Highway to the north of the city. With annual average daily traffic of 37,200, the road is one of the busier streets in Hobart.
Chigwell is a residential locality in the local government area (LGA) of Glenorchy in the Hobart LGA region of Tasmania. The locality is about 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) north-west of the town of Glenorchy. The 2016 census recorded a population of 2002 for the state suburb of Chigwell.
Macquarie Street a major one way street passing through the outskirts of the Hobart City Centre in Tasmania, Australia. Macquarie street is named after Lachlan Macquarie, who oversaw the planning of Hobart’s inner city grid layout. The street forms a One-way couplet with nearby Davey Street connecting traffic from the Southern Outlet in the south with traffic from the Tasman Highway to the east and the Brooker Highway to the north of the city. With annual average daily traffic of 28,500, the road is one of the busier streets in Hobart.
The East Derwent Highway is a highway in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. The highway is a trunk road that carries heavy commuter traffic, much like the Brooker Highway, on the eastern side of the River Derwent.
The South Arm Highway is a highway serving the southern suburbs of Hobart, on the eastern shore of the River Derwent in Tasmania, Australia. The highway is a major trunk road that carries heavy commuter traffic south from the Eastern Outlet to Howrah and Rokeby. As one of the Tasman Highway's principle Feeders and one of the eastern shore's major transport corridors, The South Arm Highway facilitates the movement of traffic between the suburbs and satellite communities to the south with the city centre and ultimately, other major cross city highways. With annual average daily traffic (AADT) of 17,000, the highway is considered a major traffic corridor within Hobart. The designation "South Arm Highway" arises from its journey south to South Arm.
The Domain Highway is a highway in Tasmania, Australia. The highway acts as a link road connecting traffic between Hobart's two busiest highways; The Tasman Highway and the Brooker Highway while also bypassing the Hobart city centre. With recorded annual average daily traffic of 25,000, the single carriageway road is busier than some of Hobart's dual carriageway highways. Commencing at the Brooker Highway at Cornelian Bay and heading southeast between the banks of the Derwent River and the Domain and Botanical Gardens. The highway ends at the Tasman Highway, on the western approach of the Tasman Bridge.
Goodwood Road is a 4-lane link road that connects the City of Glenorchy to the City of Clarence in the greater area of Hobart, Tasmania. Using the Bowen Bridge the road travels over the River Derwent in semi-highway road layout. The road starts 10 km north of the Hobart CBD near the Hobart Showground on the Brooker Highway at Glenorchy, from there it travels east past the Elwick Racecourse, over the Bowen Bridge and connects to the East Derwent Highway at Otago. While the route the road takes is used far less than other major arterial roads in Hobart, commuters often depend on the road when major incidents occur on other major roads throughout Hobart.
Elwick Road is a major arterial road that runs through the northern suburbs of Hobart, Tasmania. The Road is the major link road between the Main Road and the Brooker Highway that connects to Glenorchy. The Road Passes through residential areas.
The city of Hobart, Tasmania is served by a wide variety of transport. While the city's main form of transport is private transport on the road network, transport is also available by bus, ferry and aircraft. A suburban train service operated between Hobart and Brighton from the 1870s until 31 December 1974. There has been, however, talk in recent years of reinstating a train service in the northern suburbs.
Hobart City Centre is a suburb surrounded by metropolitan Hobart, which comprises the original settlement, the central business district, and other built-up areas. It is the oldest part of Hobart and includes many of the city's important institutions and landmarks, such as Parliament, the Supreme Court, Franklin Square, the Elizabeth Street Mall, the Royal Hobart Hospital, the Theatre Royal, Odeon Theatre, State Library, the NAB Building, the Museum, and the Cenotaph. The city centre is located in the local government areas of the City of Hobart.
The Hobart Bypass is a proposed concept to bypass the Central Business District of Hobart, Tasmania. Currently, through traffic travels from the Tasman/Brooker Highways down the one-way Davey/Macquarie couplet to the Southern Outlet. As well as traffic concerns, there is also a call to build the bypass on the grounds that the current traffic arrangement cuts the central business district off from Hobart's waterfront.
The Hobart Area Transportation Study was a comprehensive transport plan released in 1965 for the purpose of examining the transport needs of the Australian 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.
Riverline, also known as the Northern Suburbs Railway, was a proposed light rail system that would have traversed the southernmost section of the South Railway Line, through the northern suburbs of Hobart, Tasmania.
The Glenorchy Art and Sculpture Park (GASP) is a sculpture park and boardwalk in Glenorchy, Tasmania, Australia. Commencing at Montrose Foreshore Community Park, GASP follows Elwick Bay's foreshore, terminating at Wilkinsons Point. GASP is in close proximity to the MyState Bank Arena, Elwick Racecourse and the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Berriedale.