Introduction
We want your feedback to identify long term strategies to future proof the Esk Main Road connection between St Marys and the Tasman Highway.
We are investigating ways to improve the connection between St Marys and the Tasman Highway. Options include improving the existing St Marys Pass and exploring alternative routes.
Background
Esk Main Road at St Marys Pass follows the Ferntree Glen Creek Valley, between the Nicholas Range to the north, and Mt Elephant to the south. It drops from an altitude of 258 metres above sea level at St Marys, to sea level on the East Coast.
St Marys Pass has some narrow, winding sections and steep slopes, and a history of landslides and emergency road closures.
Route identification
The Esk Main Road at St Marys Pass project is investigating seven options between St Marys to the East Coast. Two of the options explore keeping the existing Esk Main Road at St Marys Pass with ongoing maintenance, or a ten-year phased upgrade of the existing route. The other five options explore alternative routes.
Download details on each route option below:
Orange Route - Lower German Town Road Extension
Blue Route - TasNetworks Power Line
Yellow Route - Gillies Road Extension
Green Route - Alternate Gillies Road Extension
Purple Route - Maintain Existing Route
Purple Route 2 - Maintain Existing Route plus 10 Year Upgrade
There are no easy options. All the routes go through challenging, mountainous terrain with risk of landslides.
The objective of this project is to identify benefits and challenges of each of the options, to improve the safety of the route from St Marys to the East Coast. This will help us decide which options should go through more detailed investigations including concept design, geotechnical engineering, environmental and heritage impacts, and other considerations.
Community consultation
We want to hear from you to help inform the benefits and challenges of the options. The preferred option(s) will then go through more work to develop the design and gain the relevant approvals before construction. It may be several years before construction starts.
Figure 1:
Project phases
Public consultation will be open from Thursday 5 September to Thursday 3 October 2024.
You can provide feedback and make comments online via our interactive map below or at one of our drop-in sessions.
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