Truckies heading to Launceston in Tasmania along the Bass Highway have a new place to stop for some shut eye with the opening of a heavy vehicle driver rest area west of Westbury.
With shelter, seating, lighting and toilet facilities, the new rest area, which actually sits within the boundaries of Exton, has capacity for up to 15 heavy vehicles, and includes a deceleration and slip lane to allow trucks to enter and exit the facilities smoothly.
It is the first of two rest areas being built on the Bass Highway with construction on the westbound site expected to start later this year. Tenders for construction on the Devonport-bound facility were advertised in late May and close on June 24, 2026.
Both projects are funded under the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program, with the Australian Government committing over $9.6 million and the Tasmanian Government committing the remaining funding for a combined total of over $12 million for the two projects.
Tasmania Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Kerry Vincent says the rest area is a welcome addition to the region.
“The Westbury heavy vehicle rest area provides our state’s heavy vehicle operators with a new space to pull over, rest, and recharge on the key freight route between Devonport, Launceston, and Hobart – and the feedback from drivers has been positive already,” Vincent says.
“This new facility demonstrates the Tasmanian Government’s commitment to delivering rest areas that support mandatory rest breaks for heavy vehicle drivers travelling on Tasmania’s major freight routes.
“We look forward to starting construction on the second Westbury rest area later this year, continuing to work with the Federal Government on the normal 80:20 funding model, and ensuring both facilities can meet the current and future demand of freight on the Bass Highway and continue to support Tasmania’s heavy vehicle industry.”
Tasmanian Transport Association (TTA) Chair John de Bruyn, who is also the Chair of the Tasmanian Heavy Vehicle Driver Rest Area Committee, says the new rest area represents the successful delivery of priorities identified by industry many years ago.
“This is exactly the type of investment the transport industry called for through the TTA’s 2020 Tasmanian Heavy Vehicle Driver Rest Area Report and the Tasmanian Heavy Vehicle Rest Area Strategy,” de Bruyn says.
“The Tasmanian Transport Association has worked closely with the Government over many years to advocate for improved rest area infrastructure, and we are pleased to see those recommendations being delivered.”
He says the TTA also acknowledged the contribution of members of the Tasmanian Heavy Vehicle Driver Rest Area Committee, transport operators, drivers and government agencies who have worked collaboratively to improve rest area planning and provision across the State.
“The second stage of this project will further strengthen the network and provide additional capacity for the growing freight task on the Bass Highway,” de Bruyn says.
For more on the project, go to the transport.tas.gov.au website.