Motorists using the Southern Outlet should prepare for upcoming lane closures as the major upgrade to Browns Road in Kingston enters its final phase.

Kingborough Council announced on July 8 that the concluding stage of the reconstruction project is now underway. This will involve the removal of the temporary access lane that has connected Browns Road to the Southern Outlet during the works.

In the council’s statement, Acting Mayor Christian Street said the reopening of Browns Road to two-way traffic marked a “significant milestone” for the project, which began in March.

“With these works complete, our focus will shift to removing the temporary access lane connecting Browns Road to the Southern Outlet,” Cr Street said. He confirmed that access to the outlet from Browns Road would be closed from Monday, 13 July, to allow for the removal.

The council advised that these final works will affect traffic heading south out of Hobart. “During these final stages there will be changes to traffic management and some short-term lane closures on the Southern Outlet affecting Kingston-bound traffic,” Cr Street stated.

While a specific date for the removal of all temporary barriers was still to be confirmed, the council’s project information page indicated the work would likely take a full day and require detours. The installation of the barriers in March was conducted on a Sunday and involved diverting southbound traffic to the Summerleas Road roundabout. Kingborough Council said more information would be provided before the closures take place.

The Browns Road upgrade is the second stage of a project aimed at improving safety, accessibility, and travel reliability, according to the council. The works included a full reconstruction of the road surface, new kerbing and drainage, and a new concrete footpath.

Bus services will also be affected during this final stage, the council said. Commuters are advised to check for the latest service information with Metro Tasmania, Tassielink, or on the Tasmanian Government’s transport website.

Acting Mayor Christian Street thanked the community for their cooperation during the months of roadworks. “We thank residents, businesses and road users for their patience throughout construction and look forward to completing the final elements of the project,” he said.

Residents can find further details on the Browns Road reconstruction page on the Kingborough Council website.