Road Closures and Delays: Major CBD Night Works and Huon Highway Upgrades Impacting Saturday Commutes

Morning Commute Overview

Hobart drivers and public transport users should prepare for a mix of scheduled night work completions and ongoing major infrastructure projects this Saturday, 21 March 2026. While weekend traffic is generally lighter than the weekday rush, several arterial routes and central business district (CBD) intersections are subject to significant restrictions that may add 10 to 15 minutes to travel times. Authorities recommend checking the status of arterial roads before departing, particularly for those heading toward the waterfront or the southern suburbs.

CBD and Central Hobart Roadworks

The City of Hobart has confirmed several key closures and night works affecting central routes that will influence traffic flow throughout the day:

• Liverpool and Murray Street Intersection: Intensive night works have been underway at this major intersection. While the site is scheduled to be cleared of most heavy machinery by 6:00 AM on Saturday morning, motorists should remain alert for residual equipment, changed lane markings, or temporary surfacing as the project continues through April.
• McVilly Drive: This route remains fully closed to vehicular traffic between Davies Avenue and the Tasman Highway interchange. This closure is part of a week-long construction phase and is not expected to reopen until 6:00 AM on Monday, 23 March.
• Edward Street (Glebe): Road works between Brooker Avenue and Short Street continue today, with activity scheduled between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Local detours are in place, and through-traffic is encouraged to use the Brooker Highway.

Highway and Arterial Updates

Major upgrades on the outskirts of the city are reaching their final phases this month, with significant impacts on southern commuters:

• Huon Highway (Kingston and Leslie Vale): Extensive repair and strengthening works are ongoing as part of the Freight Capacity Upgrade Program. At Leslie Vale (near Leslie Road), crews are active from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with lane closures and reduced speed limits in effect 24 hours a day. In the Kingston section, between Summerleas Road and the Southern Outlet, work is scheduled from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Commuters should allow at least 15 minutes of extra travel time in both directions.
• Boyer Road (New Norfolk): At the Derbyshire Cliffs near Pulpit Rock Lookout, road durability upgrades have reduced traffic to a single lane. Traffic controllers will be on-site this Saturday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM to manage the flow.

Public Transport and Metro Alerts

Metro Tasmania has issued several service alerts for Saturday due to the high volume of infrastructure work:

• CBD Stop Changes: Services typically using the Liverpool and Murray Street corridor may experience slight deviations or temporary stop changes depending on the finalization of overnight paving works.
• Kingston and Rosny Diversions: Local service adjustments are in place due to the ongoing Browns Road closure in Kingston and work on Rosny Esplanade. Passengers should check the Metro Tasmania app for real-time updates on stop relocations.

Commuter Recommendations

Drivers heading into the city for Saturday morning events should consider using the Brooker Highway as the primary entry point to avoid the CBD core. For those travelling south, the Southern Outlet remains the clearest route, though heavy merge delays are expected at the Kingston interchange. Stay updated via official transport channels for any unplanned incidents throughout the afternoon.