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 Valley, serving as the primary road corridor through several towns including Huonville, Franklin, Geeveston, and Dover.

Route

The highway begins at the junction with the 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 , a narrow and winding route around Mount Wellington.
Major upgrades began in the 1960s, including the construction of the Southern Outlet in 1968 to improve access between Hobart and Kingston. 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.
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.
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.
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