View source for Brooker Highway

{{Short description|Highway in Tasmania, Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox Australian road
| type         = highway
| urban        = yes
| road_name    = Brooker Highway
| state        = tas
| route_image  =  
| image        = Brooker at risdon rd.jpg
| caption      = The busiest point of the Brooker Highway,<br />The traffic lights at Risdon Road
| length       = 17
| direction_a  = South
| direction_b  = North
| end_a        = {{AUshield|TAS|A3}} [[Tasman Highway]] /<br />{{AUshield|TAS|A6}} [[Davey Street]] /<br />{{AUshield|TAS|A6}} [[Macquarie Street, Hobart|Macquarie Street]] [[Hobart, Tasmania]]
| end_b        = {{AUshield|N|1}} [[Midland Highway (Tasmania)|Midland Highway]], [[Granton, Tasmania|Granton, Hobart]] 
| est          = 1954
| through      = [[Glebe, Tasmania|Glebe]], [[Lutana]], [[Goodwood, Tasmania|Goodwood]], [[Glenorchy, Tasmania|Glenorchy]], [[Montrose, Tasmania|Montrose]], [[Rosetta, Tasmania|Rosetta]], [[Berriedale, Tasmania|Berriedale]], [[Claremont, Tasmania|Claremont]], [[Austins Ferry]]
| region       = [[Hobart]]
| route        = {{AUshield|N|1}} National Highway 1<br /><small>([[Highway 1 (Tasmania)|Hobart–Granton]])</small>
| former       = {{AUshield|S|1}} State Route 1<ref>[http://www.ozroads.com.au/TAS/routenumbering/old/stateroutes.htm Former State Route Numbering System in Tasmania], ''Ozroads: the Australian Roads Website''. Retrieved on 30 January 2008.{{Self-published source|date=October 2013}}</ref>
| exits        = {{AUshield|TAS|B36}} [[Domain Highway]]<br />{{AUshield|TAS|B35}} [[Goodwood Road, Hobart|Goodwood Road]]<br />{{AUshield|TAS|A10}} [[Lyell Highway]]

''for full list see [[Brooker Highway#Exits|Major intersections]]''   
}}
The '''Brooker Highway''' is a [[highway]] in the [[Australia]]n state of [[Tasmania]]. As one of [[Hobart]]'s three major radials, the highway connects traffic from the [[Hobart central business district|city centre]] with the northern suburbs and is the major road connection to the cities and towns of northern Tasmania. With an [[annual average daily traffic]] of 48,000,<ref>{{cite web | year = 2006 | url = http://stca.tas.gov.au/downloads/2006/integrated-transport-plan.pdf | title = Southern Region Background Report | publisher = [[Department of Infrastructure, Energy & Resources]] | access-date = 2013-03-11}}</ref> the highway is one of the busiest in Tasmania. The Brooker Highway has recently been declared part of the [[National Highway (Australia)|National Highway]].

The Brooker Highway runs approximately {{Convert|17|km|mi|abbr=on}} north from the central business district, through the northern suburbs of Hobart, and through the [[City of Glenorchy]], bypassing commercial and industrial centres along the original [[Main Road, Hobart|Main Road]].  It is primarily a four lane ([[dual-carriageway]]) highway, and apart from the [[Domain Highway]] junction, only the northern sections of the highway have [[Grade separation|grade separated]] junctions. The remainder of the junctions are regulated by [[traffic light]] intersections.

While the highway is substantially less congested than in other states during peak hours, it is more congested off-peak than roads in [[Queensland]], [[Western Australia]], and almost as congested as those in [[New South Wales]]. It is thus a busy road by any Australian standard.<ref name="report">{{cite web | year = 2012 | url = http://www.transport.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/58447/Light_Rail_Business_Case_Stage_1_Background_Report.pdf | title = Hobart to Northern Suburbs Light Rail Business Case - Stage One Report | publisher = ACIL Tasman for the [[Department of Infrastructure, Energy & Resources]] | access-date = 2013-03-11 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131219024830/http://www.transport.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/58447/Light_Rail_Business_Case_Stage_1_Background_Report.pdf | archive-date = 19 December 2013 | url-status = dead}}</ref> The Brooker Highway is currently{{when|date=May 2023}} below the acceptable [[Level of service (transportation)|levels of service]], and [[Traffic congestion|congestion]] issues are expected to worsen significantly over the next 20 years with the highway already approaching its designed capacity.<ref name="submission14">{{cite web | year = 2012 | url = http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/ctee/Council/Submissions/HobartNorthernSuburbsRailActionGroup%20Submission%2014%20Aug%2012.pdf | title = The Hobart Northern Suburbs Rail Action Group Inc's submission to the Legislative Council | publisher = Northern suburbs rail action group | access-date = 2013-03-10}}</ref> A current proposal to convert the [[South railway line, Tasmania|South railway line]] corridor for use as a [[Riverline (Hobart)|light rail]] system has the potential to alleviate the Brooker Highway's traffic problems.<ref name="report" /><ref name="submission14" />

==History==
[[File:Brooker hwy5.png|thumb|left|The [[Domain Highway]] junction at [[Cornelian Bay, Tasmania|Cornelian Bay]]]]
The first stage of the Brooker Avenue was constructed as a dual carriageway four-lane road in 1954 between Risdon Road, New Town, and Elwick Road, Glenorchy. The north-bound and south-bound roads were divided by a wide median strip with trees planted at intervals. At various points the median strip was dissected by a short roadway to enable traffic to U-turn to the opposite direction. 

In 1957 work began on extending the road into Hobart city. This work dissected part of the former racecourse grounds at Cornelian Bay, and the obliteration of Batman Place which was the location of huts built for affordable housing. The road was built on an embankment which crossed the Main Line Railway and Bellevue Parade via a concrete bridge. The road skirted around the edge of the Queens Domain to an area known as Cleary's Gates. At the intersection with the Domain Highway, a grade-separated intersection was completed which is commonly known as the 'clover-leaf'. Between here and the city the new road consumed much of Park Street.  

At Liverpool St a new roundabout, named [[Railway Roundabout, Hobart|Railway Roundabout]] (as it was adjacent to [[Hobart railway station]]), was completed in 1960. In 1965, the [[Hobart Area Transportation Study]] was released and entailed large development plans for the Brooker Highway, that included extension as far as Granton. By 1966 the road was extended from Elwick Road to the Main Road at [[Berriedale, Tasmania|Berriedale]]. This entailed some shoreline reclamation works at Montrose Bay. 

In 1977 the highway was further extended, taking the road from a new interchange at Berriedale Road to the [[Claremont, Tasmania|Claremont]] Link Road. This section was initially a single-lane road each-way but with a third climbing lane in the north direction. In 1981 the final section between Claremont Link Road and Midland Highway at Granton was commenced. This was opened in 1983 as a single-lane road each-way, and with a long climbing lane in the south direction, commencing from Black Snake Lane and merging in near Hilton Road, in Austins Ferry. In 1992 the four-lane dual carriageway highway that stands today was completed through to Granton and the Bridgewater bridge.<ref name="ozroads">{{cite web | year = 2003 | url = http://www.ozroads.com.au/TAS/expressways/expressways.htm | title = Tasmanian Expressways | publisher = ozroads.com.au | access-date = 30 April 2007}}{{Self-published source|date=October 2013}}</ref> 

The Brooker Highway was built as a replacement to the original [[Midland Highway (Tasmania)|Midland Highway]] route between Hobart city and [[Granton, Tasmania|Granton]], which passed along [[Elizabeth Street, Hobart|Elizabeth Street]], New Town Road and [[Main Road, Hobart|Main Road]], through the built up areas of [[New Town, Tasmania|New Town]], [[Moonah, Tasmania|Moonah]], [[Glenorchy, Tasmania|Glenorchy]], Rosetta, Montrose, Claremont and Berriedale.<ref name="ozroads" />
This was the first major highway construction in the Hobart City region, and was named  Brooker Highway, after the Minister for Transport at the time of the conception of the project, [[Edward Brooker (Australian politician)|Edward Brooker]]. Although the road's formal name is Brooker ''Avenue'', it is more commonly referred to as Brooker ''Highway'' whilst the section between Berriedale and Granton is often referred to as the ''Northern Outlet''.

===Timeline===

* 1954: Stage One: Risdon Road, New Town – Elwick Road, Glenorchy.
* 1959: Stage Two: Risdon Road, New Town – Liverpool St, CBD (Railway Roundabout completed 1960).
* 1966: Stage Three: Elwick Road, Glenorchy – Main Road, Berriedale.
* 1977: Stage Four: Main Road, Berriedale – Claremont Link Road, Claremont (single carriageway with north climbing lane).
* 1983: Stage Five: Claremont Link Road, Claremont – Midland Hwy, Granton (single carriageway with south climbing lane).
* 1992: Stage Six: Claremont Link Road, Claremont – Black Snake Lane, Granton (dual carriageway).

===Lighting===
In April 2007, the [[Department of Infrastructure, Energy & Resources]] announced plans to replace the sub-standard rusted [[Street light|light poles]] between Risdon Road and Clearys Gates Road.<ref name="Dier">{{cite news|title= Council poles apart on Brooker lights switch |publisher= [[The Mercury (Hobart)|The Mercury]]}}</ref> These are over 40 years old and were the first lights on the Highway, which sparked some concern from the [[City of Hobart|Hobart City Council]]. They argue that the light poles are in good condition and are a significant feature of the Brooker Highway entrance to Hobart. While the Hobart City Council supports the replacement, they have written to Infrastructure Minister Jim Cox asking him to consider retaining the ornate arms on modern pole bases.<ref name="Dier" />

===2010 emergency landing incident===
On 4 April 2010 18-year-old pilot Patrick Humphries made world headlines<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/04/05/teenage-pilot-escapes-unhurt-after-crash-landing-on-motorway-115875-22162919/|title=Teenage pilot escapes unhurt after crash-landing on motorway|website=[[Daily Mirror (Sydney)|Daily Mirror]]|date=5 April 2010|access-date=26 November 2020}}</ref> by using the normally busy highway as an emergency landing strip after running out of fuel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/05/2864256.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100407011348/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/05/2864256.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 April 2010|title=Pilot recalls highway crash-landing|last=Douglas|first=Kara|date=4 April 2010|website=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|access-date=26 November 2020}}</ref> Humphries was unhurt from the accident and no vehicles were involved in the incident.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/plane-crashes-on-city-highway-20100404-rlb1.html | work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]| title=Plane crashes on city highway | date=4 April 2010}}</ref>

===2016–17 Elwick Rd/Goodwood Rd and Howard Rd/Renfrew Cir intersection upgrades===
Before 2016, [[Elwick Road]] and [[Goodwood Road, Hobart|Goodwood Road]] formed two separate t-junctions on opposite sides of the Brooker Highway offset by around 100m. The upgrade undertaken between January 2016 and May 2017 aligned Elwick Road with Goodwood Road so that one set of traffic lights could be removed. Extra lanes were also added.

At the same time the adjacent Brooker Highway intersection, Howard Road / Renfrew Circuit was also converted from a five-exit two-lane roundabout to a traffic-lights controlled intersection. The fifth exit from the former Brooker Highway roundabout, Timsbury Road, is now accessed from Howard Road.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,23192532-3462,00.html|title=Lights to end the roundabout blues|date=11 February 2008|access-date=14 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213030408/http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0%2C22884%2C23192532-3462%2C00.html|archive-date=13 February 2008|url-status=dead|publisher=[[The Mercury (Hobart)|The Mercury]]|last=Worley|first=Mark}}</ref> The contract for the works, awarded to [[Hazell Bros]] was worth $32 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hazellbros.com.au/news/contract-award-2/|title=$32 million contract to upgrade Brooker Hwy awarded to Hazell Bros}}</ref>

==Future==
[[File:Morning-rushhour-brooker-hwy(extreme closeup).jpg|thumb|right|250px|Morning Peak Hour at [[Montrose, Tasmania|Montrose]] During the [[Royal Hobart Show]]]]
In February 2011, the [[Department of Infrastructure, Energy & Resources]] revealed intentions to within 3 years "Finalise design options for Domain Highway intersection and increased lane capacity between [[Domain Highway]] and Risdon Road".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.transport.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/110177/Brooker_Highway_Transport_Plan.pdf|title=Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources - Brooker Highway Transport Plan}}</ref> This intention was reaffirmed in an October 2017 submission by the Tasmanian Government to Infrastructure Australia: "Brooker Highway - Risdon Road to Domain Highway - no cost estimate, concept designs to be prepared."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/161414/Submission_to_Infrastructure_Australia_-_Infrastructure_Priority_List_update_-_October_2017.pdf|title=Tasmanian Government Oct 2017 submission to Infrastructure Australia|access-date=4 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323102512/https://www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/161414/Submission_to_Infrastructure_Australia_-_Infrastructure_Priority_List_update_-_October_2017.pdf|archive-date=23 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Department of State Growth]] released a report titled Hobart Congestion Traffic Analysis 2016 prepared by traffic engineer Keith Midson. Under long-term solutions, the report considered the Liverpool St intersection with the Brooker Hwy, also known as the 'railway roundabout'. The report stated "The railway roundabout is a major cause of congestion... A possible solution is the grade separation of the roundabout."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.transport.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/132986/Hobart_Traffic_Congestion_-_Traffic_Analysis.pdf|title=Hobart Congestion Traffic Analysis 2016}}</ref>

Recently the government came under pressure from the community to improve pedestrian access over the highway at [[Goodwood, Tasmania|Goodwood]] and eliminate the stairs primarily for the benefit of the elderly and handicapped.

==Route description==
The highway starts in the Hobart CBD at the junction with [[Tasman Highway|Eastern Outlet]] (A3, Tasman Highway), [[Davey Street]] (A6) and [[Macquarie Street, Hobart|Macquarie Street]] (A6). The Tasman Highway heads east over the [[Tasman Bridge]], past the [[Hobart Airport|Airport]] and eventually leads to the east coast of the state, while Davey Street leads towards the [[Southern Outlet, Hobart|Southern Outlet]] (A6), which in turn heads south towards [[Kingston, Tasmania|Kingston]] and [[Huonville]] (Davey and Macquarie are one-way streets - Davey Street flows south-west, and Macquarie Street flows north-east through the CBD).

Apart from the connection to Davey and Macquarie Streets, the major intersection with streets in the [[Hobart central business district|CBD]] is the three-lane roundabout at the north-east end of Liverpool Street. Because it was built in close proximity to the [[Hobart railway station]] at the time, the roundabout was, and continues to be, called the [[Railway Roundabout, Hobart|Railway Roundabout]]. The sunken garden in the centre of the roundabout functions as a pedestrian thoroughfare, with under-road tunnels connecting to the two sides of Liverpool Street, the original site of the railway station to the north-east, and to the Domain and the suburb of The Glebe to the north-west.  The roundabout was originally just an un-controlled intersection, but with the gradual increase in traffic, particularly from the eastern shore of the Derwent, it was often in grid-lock at peak travel times.  Traffic lights were introduced and alleviated the situation, and later construction of the direct links from the Tasman Bridge to Davey and Macquarie Streets further relieved the pressure.  Other streets from the CBD provide access to the highway, but for much of its length to the city boundary at Risdon Road it is limited access road.

Through the City of Glenorchy the highway has large multi-lane intersections, at Risdon Road, Elwick Road and Derwent Park Road. The highway is in a reasonable condition for its age, but does experience congestion for certain periods during the day.

Trees line the middle nature strip for several kilometres, and fencing prevents pedestrian access at various points. 
The Highway makes its way past [[Queens Domain|The Domain]], Cornelian Bay Hockey Grounds, Rugby Park, [[Hobart Showground|The Royal Hobart Showgrounds]], [[Tattersalls Park]] and the [[Derwent Entertainment Centre]].  
At the northern end (at [[Granton, Tasmania|Granton]]) it connects to the [[Midland Highway (Tasmania)|Midland Highway]] (National Highway&nbsp;1) (which heads north towards [[Launceston, Tasmania|Launceston]]) and the [[Lyell Highway]] (A10) (which takes motorists towards the [[West Coast, Tasmania|west coast]]).

==Major intersections==
{{AUSinttop|length_ref=<ref>{{Google maps|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Brooker+Ave&daddr=-42.860663,147.3147153+to:Unknown+road&hl=en&ll=-42.82789,147.261429&spn=0.257081,0.41851&sll=-42.749927,147.224988&sspn=0.004022,0.006539&geocode=Ffi3cf0dkCTICA%3BFYn_cf0dG9jHCCnRcmwkG3VuqjFRlYi8TckDEw%3BFc2xc_0dS3bGCA&mra=dme&mrsp=2&sz=18&via=1&t=m&z=12 |accessdate=15 April 2014}}</ref>}}
{{TASint
|type=incomplete
|LGAC=Hobart
|LGAspan=5
|location=Hobart
|lspan=3
|km=0
|road={{AUshield|TAS|A3|TAS|A6|+|airport}} [[Tasman Highway]] (A3) north / [[Davey Street]] & [[Macquarie Street, Hobart|Macquarie Street]] [[one-way couplet]] (A6) south{{TAScity|p=on|Sorrel}}, [[Hobart Airport]]
|notes=Highway terminus; no access from the highway to Davey Street or Macquarie Street}}
{{TASint
|km=0.3
|km2=0.4
|road={{AUshield|TAS|A3}} Liverpool Street (A3) to Tasman Highway northeast / Liverpool Street & Bathurst Street one-way couplet southwest&nbsp;– Sorrel, Hobart Airport, Hobart city centre
|notes=Traffic light controlled roundabout}}
{{TASint
|km=1.1
|road=Warwick Street&nbsp;– Hobart, [[North Hobart]]
|notes=}}
{{TASint
|type=incomplete
|location_special=[[North Hobart]]–[[Glebe, Tasmania|Glebe]] boundary
|km=1.3
|road=Burnett Street southwest / Shoobridge Street east&nbsp;– North Hobart, [[West Hobart]], Glebe
|notes=Shoobridge Street intersection is [[left-in/left-out]] only; Complete access between Brooker Highway and Burnett Street at traffic lights}}
{{TASint
|location=New Town
|km=3.0
|km2=3.2
|road={{AUshield|TAS|B36}} [[Domain Highway]] (B36)&nbsp;– Tasman Bridge, Sorrel, [[Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens]]
|notes=[[Interchange (road)#Trumpet interchange|Trumpet interchange]]
}}
{{TASint
|LGA=Hobart–[[City of Glenorchy|Glenorchy]] boundary
|location_special=New Town–[[Moonah, Tasmania|Moonah]]–[[Lutana, Tasmania|Lutana]] [[tripoint]]
|km=4.1
|road=Risdon Road - [[New Town, Tasmania|New Town]], [[Lenah Valley]], [[Cornelian Bay, Tasmania|Cornelian Bay]], [[Lutana]], {{TAScity|Risdon}}
|notes=}}
{{TASint
|LGA=Glenorchy
|LGAspan=16
|location_special=Moonah–Lutana boundary
|km=4.9
|road=Bowen Road south / Ashbolt Crescent east{{TAScity|p=on|Moonah}}, Lutana
|notes=}}
{{TASint
|location_special=Moonah–Lutana–[[Derwent Park, Tasmania|Derwent Park]] tripoint
|km=5.6
|road=[[Derwent Park Road]]{{TAScity|p=on|Derwent Park}}, Moonah, Ridson, [[Prince of Wales Bay]]
|notes=}}
{{TASint
|type=incomplete
|location_special=Derwent Park
|km=6.3
|road=[[Lampton Avenue]]&nbsp;– Derwent Park, Prince of Wales Bay
|notes=Lampton Avenue east of intersection is left-in/left-out only}}
{{TASint
|location_special=[[Glenorchy, Tasmania|Glenorchy]]–[[Goodwood, Tasmania|Goodwood]] boundary
|lspan=2
|km=7.1
|road=Howard Road south / Renfrew Court north&nbsp;– Derwent Park, {{TAScity|Goodwood}}
|notes=}}
{{TASint
|km=7.5
|road={{AUshield|TAS|B35}} [[Goodwood Road, Hobart|Goodwood Road]] (B35)&nbsp;– [[Bowen Bridge]]
|notes=}}
{{TASint
|location_special=Glenorchy
|lspan=2
|km=7.6
|road=Elwick Road{{TAScity|p=on|Glenorchy}}, [[Tolosa Park]]
|notes=}}
{{TASint
|km=8.0
|road=Loyd Road&nbsp;– [[Derwent Entertainment Centre]]
|notes=}}
{{TASint
|location=Rosetta
|km=9.7
|km2=10.1
|road=Main Road{{TAScity|p=on|Berriedale|Rosetta}}
|notes=Left-in/left-out intersection for each carriageway}}
{{TASint
|type=incomplete
|location=Berriedale
|km=10.6
|road={{AUshield|TAS|C615}} Berriedale Road (C615)&nbsp;– Berriedale, [[Chigwell, Tasmania|Chigwell]], [[Collinsvale]]
|notes=Partial diamond interchange: no exit southbound}}
{{TASint
|location_special=Berriedale–[[Claremont, Tasmania|Claremont]]–[[Chigwell, Tasmania|Chigwell]] tripoint
|km=12.4
|road=Claremont Link Road&nbsp;– Chigwell, {{TAScity|Claremont|Cadbury}}
|notes=Diamond interchange}}
{{TASint
|location_special=Claremont
|lspan=3
|km=13.6
|road=Abbotsfield Road&nbsp;– Claremont
|notes=Left-in/left-out intersection for each carriageway}}
{{TASint
|type=incomplete
|km=14.8
|road=Hilton Road - [[Austins Ferry]]
|notes=Left-in/left-out access southbound}}
{{TASint
|type=incomplete
|km=15.1
|road=Upper Hilton Road&nbsp;– Austins Ferry
|notes=Left-in/left-out access northbound}}
{{TASint
|type=incomplete
|location=Granton
|lspan=3
|km=17.9
|road=Black Snake Road south / Main Road east{{TAScity|p=on|Granton}}, Austins Ferry
|notes=Left-in/left-out access northbound; entrance ramp southbound}}
{{TASint
|type=incomplete
|km=18.3
|road=Main Road&nbsp;– Granton, Austins Ferry
|notes=Southbound exit only}}
{{TASint
|km=18.5
|road={{AUshield|N|1|TAS|A10}} [[Midland Highway (Tasmania)|Midland Highway]] (National Highway&nbsp;1) north / [[Lyell Highway]] (A10) west{{TAScity|p=on|Bridgewater|Launceston|New Norfolk|Hamilton}}
|notes=Roundabout; northern highway terminus}}
{{Jctbtm|keys=incomplete}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Australian Roads}}
* [[List of highways in Hobart]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Brooker Highway}}
* [http://www.ozroads.com.au/TAS/expressways/expressways.htm Tasmanian Expressways]
* [http://www.ozroads.com.au/TAS/routenumbering/old/stateroutes.htm Route Numbering]

{{Navboxes
|list =
{{Road infrastructure in Hobart}}
{{Road infrastructure in Tasmania}}
}}

[[Category:Highways in Hobart]]