Meander Valley Road

Meander Valley Highway

Tasmania
Meander Valley Highway; Tasmania
	Meander Valley Road on a Bridge over the South Esk River near Hadspen in 2012
General information
Type	Road
Length	39.9 km (25 mi)
Route number(s)	B54 ; Deloraine - Prospect Vale
Former; route number	Bass Highway; 1980 - 2000s State Route 2 ; 1960s - 1979 Bass Highway
Major junctions
West end	Highland Lakes Road, Deloraine
	Birralee Road; Bass Highway, nearby Westbury; Illawarra Road, nearby Hadspen and Carrick; Bass Highway, near Travellers Rest;
East end	Bass Highway Westbury Road, Prospect Vale and Launceston
Location(s)
Major suburbs	Westbury, Carrick

Meander Valley Road (previously Meander Valley Highway) (B54) is a road located in the northern region of Tasmania, Australia. It connects the town of Deloraine to the Bass Highway near Prospect Vale and near Launceston, providing a scenic route through the Meander Valley.

Map of Meander Valley Road

Route

Meander Valley Road commences at the junction with the Highland Lakes Road (A5) at a roundabout nearby Deloraine, heading east through the agricultural landscapes of the Meander Valley. The road passes through several small towns, including Westbury and Carrick, before reaching its eastern terminus at the Bass Highway (N1) just outside of Launceston.^{[citation needed]}

The route serves as a quieter, more scenic alternative to the Bass Highway for travelers between Deloraine and Launceston. The road is an important route for local agriculture and connects various farming communities within the Meander Valley.^{[citation needed]}

History

Meander Valley Road has long been a key road for residents and farmers of northern Tasmania. The highway was officially designated as B54 in the late 20th century to better integrate it with Tasmania's alphanumeric road numbering system.^[2]

Historically, the road served as the primary link between Deloraine and Launceston before the construction of the Bass Highway in the 1980s. Meander Valley Road retains its role as a vital local road for accessing the rural communities of the Meander Valley and the rich farmlands surrounding the area.^{[citation needed]}

Upgrades

Various sections of Meander Valley Road have been subject to improvements over the years to enhance safety and traffic flow. These include resurfacing and shoulder-widening projects in response to increased usage by heavy vehicles, particularly those related to the agricultural and dairy industries in the region.^[3]