Southern Outlet, Hobart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southern OutletTasmania |
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| The Southern Outlet at Mount Nelson | |
| General information | |
| Type | Highway |
| Length | 13 km (8.1 mi) |
| Opened | 1969 |
| Route number(s) |  A6 |
| Major junctions | |
| North end | Davey Street /Macquarie Street Hobart, Tasmania |
| Huon Highway for full list see Exits |
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| South end | Channel Highway Kingston, Tasmania |
| Location(s) | |
| Region | Hobart |
| Major suburbs | Mount Nelson |
| Highway system | |
| Highways in Australia National Highway • Freeways in Australia Highways in Tasmania |
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The Southern Outlet is an important highway in Hobart, the capital city of Tasmania. It is one of three main highways that help people travel in and out of the city. This road connects the Hobart city centre with southern suburbs and other towns further south in Tasmania. It's a very busy road, with over 31,000 vehicles using it every day!
What is the Southern Outlet?
The Southern Outlet begins in Hobart where Davey Street and Macquarie Street meet. Here, cars can drive up to 80 kilometers per hour. The highway goes around South Hobart and then climbs into the hills of Mount Nelson.
Most of the highway travels through natural bushland. It is built so that cars on the highway do not have to stop for other roads. This means it has special bridges or tunnels for other roads to go over or under it. In some parts, the lanes going north and south are separated by the hills. This allows cars to drive faster, up to 100 kilometers per hour. The highway finishes in Kingston, at a large intersection called the Kingston Interchange.
How the Highway Was Built
Back in 1965, a study called the Hobart Transportation Study showed that a new road was needed. This road would connect Hobart with Kingston. The Southern Outlet first opened in 1969. At that time, it was a "super-2 expressway." This means it had two lanes, one in each direction, but was built for future upgrades.
Later, in 1990, the highway was fully upgraded. It became a dual-carriage way. This means it has two separate sets of lanes, one for each direction of travel. This made the road much safer and able to handle more cars.
Main Connections
The Southern Outlet connects to several important roads. These connections help people get to different parts of Hobart and beyond.
- In Hobart, it connects with Davey Street and Macquarie Street. These are major roads in the city center.
- Near Mount Nelson, it connects to Olinda Grove.
- In Kingston, it connects to Proctors Road.
- The highway also links up with the Huon Highway. This highway leads to towns further south, like Huonville.
