The Southern Outlet is a major highway in

Hobart Hobart ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the island state of Tasmania, Australia. Located in Tasmania's south-east on the estuary of the River Derwent, it is the southernmost capital city in Australia. Despite containing nearly hal ...

Tasmania Tasmania (; palawa kani: ''Lutruwita'') is an island States and territories of Australia, state of Australia. It is located to the south of the Mainland Australia, Australian mainland, and is separated from it by the Bass Strait. The sta ...

, providing a vital connection between the Hobart city centre and the southern suburbs, including

Kingston Kingston may refer to: Places * List of places called Kingston, including the six most populated: ** Kingston, Jamaica ** Kingston upon Hull, England ** City of Kingston, Victoria, Australia ** Kingston, Ontario, Canada ** Kingston upon Thames, ...

and

Huonville Huonville () is a town located on the banks of the Huon River in the Huon Valley, in the south-east of Tasmania, Australia. It serves as the administrative centre of the Huon Valley Council and is the largest town in the Huon Valley region. S ...

. It is one of Hobart’s three major radial highways and a key commuter route, carrying more than 31,000 vehicles daily. Built in 1969, the highway links Hobart to Kingston, bypassing several suburbs and acting as a fast, grade-separated route through bushland and the mountainous terrain of Mount Nelson.

Route

The Southern Outlet begins at the intersection with

Davey Street Davey Street is a major one way street passing through the outskirts of the Hobart central business district in Tasmania, Australia. Davey street is named after Thomas Davey, the first Governor of Van Diemen's Land. The street forms a one-way ...

and Macquarie Street in Hobart’s central business district, where the maximum speed is limited to 80 km/h. As it leaves Hobart, the highway bypasses the suburb of

South Hobart South Hobart is one of Hobart's inner suburbs. It is bound by Dynnyrne, Fern Tree, West Hobart and the Hobart City Centre. Landmarks South Hobart is home to many of the most beautiful homes in Hobart, including the classical Georgian residenc ...

and ascends Mount Nelson, offering scenic views of the surrounding area. From the Tolmans Hill overpass, the highway becomes fully grade-separated, with dual carriageways for northbound and southbound traffic. This section of the highway, which continues through the bushland, has a higher speed limit of 100 km/h due to its separation and safety design. The Southern Outlet terminates in

, at the Kingston Interchange, where it meets the

Channel Highway The Channel Highway is a regional highway that travels south from Hobart To Huonville, Tasmania, Australia. The Channel Highway starts from the end of Sandy Bay Road and travels south toward Huonville via Taroona, Kingston, Huntingfield, Ma ...

and the

Kingston Bypass The Kingston Bypass is a 41 million, highway bypassing the southern Hobart community of Kingston, Tasmania. The proposal of a bypass was originally published in the Hobart Area Transportation Study during 1965. The bypass was completed in 201 ...

History

The Southern Outlet was born out of the recommendations from the Hobart Area Transportation Study, which identified the need for a new transport corridor to ease congestion and improve access between Hobart and Kingston, as well as the rapidly growing southern suburbs. Construction began in the late 1960s, and the highway was officially opened in 1969 as a single-lane, dual-carriageway expressway. Initially, the highway linked Hobart with the old

Huon Highway The Huon Highway is a major highway in southern Tasmania, Australia, forming part of route . It runs approximately from Kingston to Southport, making it the southernmost sealed highway in Australia. The route connects Hobart with the Huon Val ...

near Grove. However, following population growth in Kingston and the surrounding areas, the Southern Outlet underwent significant upgrades, and in 1990 it was converted into a full dual-carriageway highway. In 2011, the construction of the

further enhanced traffic flow, creating a more efficient link between the Southern Outlet and the growing residential and commercial zones in

and Blackmans Bay.

Future developments

The Southern Outlet is undergoing significant changes aimed at improving traffic flow between Hobart and its southern suburbs. A major part of the current plan is the construction of a fifth lane, designed to function as a transit lane (T3 lane) for vehicles carrying three or more people, buses, taxis, motorbikes, and emergency vehicles. This new lane aims to alleviate congestion, particularly during peak hours, for commuters from Kingston, the Huon Valley, and other southern suburbs. This development has faced several challenges. Initially estimated at $51 million, the project has experienced substantial cost overruns, largely due to unexpected issues such as the risk of rock falls during construction, as well as design complications related to Hobart’s mountainous terrain. The revised budget is now expected to be significantly higher, although the exact amount remains unclear. Additionally, the project has led to the demolition of three homes on Dynnyrne Road, with demolition works ongoing since late 2023. This followed an earlier proposal to acquire 17 properties, which was later scaled back. Local residents and community groups have voiced concerns about the project, arguing that expanding roads may lead to increased traffic in the already congested city center rather than providing long-term solutions. The project is slated for completion by 2025, with construction of the transit lane beginning in early 2024. Despite the controversy, the Tasmanian government maintains that this upgrade is essential for managing the growing population and traffic demands of Hobart’s southern suburbs.

Exits

References

External links

{{Road infrastructure in Hobart, state=collapsed Highways in Tasmania Highways in Hobart 1969 establishments in Australia