Pedestrian pathway required between Francistown Road and Mcnaughten Road on Huon Highway, Dover

The pedestrian and road safety implications of not having a suitable pathway to walk or ride into town for the residents living in the southern part of Dover.

This area has grown in population in recent years, including the addition of many young families, but is geographically cut off from the rest of town except via vehicle. The narrow road shoulders and Bates' Creek mean that safe pedestrian access is almost impossible. Extending the walking track as far south as Mcnaughten Rd would allow safe access to the Jim Casey Oval, which is currently utilised several times weekly by school-aged soccer players. Keeping walkers off the highway would allow for safer vehicle passage through Dover as the Huon Hwy currently serves a number of local industries and the heavy vehicle traffic that they bring. The current situation, lacking a pedestrian path, means walkers must walk virtually on the highway alongside the traffic which is a most dangerous predicament. Local residents are fearful that recent near-misses will result in a terrible accident sooner or later.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to support the construction of a walking track from where it currently ends at Francistown Rd south to Mcnaughten Rd, including a foot bridge over Bates Creek. This would improve pedestrian and vehicular safety in the area and increase the options for recreational activities within the township by connecting our sports oval to the town. Aside from a huge improvement to road safety, social and health & wellbeing benefits this would provide the town are immeasurable.