Southern Outlet, Launceston
The Southern Outlet is a 12 kilometre dual carriageway that begins at Breadalbane which starts on the end of Perth Link Roads, then goes straight into Launceston bypassing Youngtown, and Kings Meadows.
Southern Outlet | |
|---|---|
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| Map of the Southern Outlet | |
| General information | |
| Type | Road |
| Length | 12 km (7.5 mi) |
| Opened | 1988 |
| Route number(s) |  National Highway (Midland Highway) Launceston - Breadalbane |
| Major junctions | |
| North end | Wellington Street |
| |
| South end |
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| Location(s) | |
| Region | Launceston |
| Major suburbs | Strathroy (and near Youngtown) |
Route
The Southern Outlet starts when leaving South Launceston with a speed grade intersection for Glen Dhu Road and going under the Westbury Road Overpass. The route goes over the speed grade intersection for the Bass Highway then going over the speed grade intersection for Kings Meadows Link, for about 6 kilometres. It is just a dual Carriageway going to Breadalbane, then going onto Perth Link Roads.
Construction
Construction of the first stage of the Launceston Southern Outlet between Glen Dhu and Strathroy commenced in February 1981 and comprised the construction of 7.4 km of dual carriageway and included three major bridges, namely the Mt Pleasant Interchange, the Westbury Road Overpass and the Glen Dhu Overpass. The highway opened to traffic between the Glen Dhu interchange and the temporary connection onto the old Midland Highway at Jinglers Creek, Strathroy.[1] The extension of the Launceston Southern Outlet Road between Breadalbane and Strathroy opened to traffic on 28 August 1987. This extension included the construction of 3.7 km of dual carriageway and a roundabout, linking the Outlet Road with the Midland Highway and Evandale Main Road.[2] The third and final section of the Launceston Southern Outlet opened to traffic on 24 May 1988. The road works involved construction of 1 km of dual carriageway between Glen Dhu Overpass and the Frankland Street/Wellington Street intersection.[3]
Car accidents and incidents
Car accidents[4] have happened on the Southern Outlet hundreds of times from the bottom of Glen Dhu to the Bass Highway speed grade intersection causing the speed limit to be reduced to 90 Kilometres Per Hour.[5]
In January 2025, a teenager was driving on the Southern Outlet on a go-kart, going down on the Southern Outlet, but did not get to the bottom due to a unmarked police car pulling the teenager over.[6]
In March 2026, three vehicles crashed on the Southern Outlet with traffic being backed up from Kings Meadows.[7]
Exits
| Location | km | mi | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | South Launceston | 0 | 0.0 | Wellington Street | Start of the Southern Outlet after leaving Wellington Street |
| Launceston | South Launceston | 0.300 | 0.186 | Howick Street | |
| Launceston | South Launceston | 1.2 | 0.75 | Pipeworks Road | Semi diamond intersection |
| Launceston | Prospect | 2.4 | 1.5 | Bass Highway | Trumpet interchange |
| Launceston | Youngtown | 4.3 | 2.7 |  Kings Meadows Link | Semi clover interchange |
| Northern Midlands | Breadalbane | 12 | 7.5 |  Evandale Road | Trumpet interchange and the Southern Outlet ending onto Perth Link Roads |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
See also
References
- ↑ Annual Report 1984-1985, Tasmania, Department of Main Roads, 1985, p. 18
- ↑ Annual Report 1987-1988, Tasmania, Department of Main Roads, 1988, p. 30
- ↑ Annual Report 1987-1988, Tasmania, Department of Main Roads, 1988, p. 32
- ↑ "Multiple car crash in Southern Outlet, Launceston". www.examiner.com.au. 2 February 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "Speed limit reduction for the Southern Outlet confirmed". www.examiner.com.au. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
- ↑ "Teenager caught in 'reckless' go-cart joyride down Launceston highway". Pulse Tasmania. 20 January 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
- ↑ "Three-vehicle crash on Southern Outlet, traffic backed up to Kings Meadows". www.examiner.com.au. 9 March 2026. Retrieved 29 July 2026.