Safer crossings ahead as CBD scramble works begin

Published on 27 February 2026

Hobart's first-ever popular scramble crossings get the green light for permanent construction, a major step toward safer, smoother movement through two of the city's busiest CBD intersections.

From Monday, 2 March, night works will commence to complete upgrades at:

• Murray and Collins Street

• Murray and Liverpool Street

The changes include kerb reconfigurations and accessibility improvements to safely support diagonal pedestrian movements, and new line markings, making it easier for people to navigate and cross these intersections in all directions.

The project reflects strong community support for safer, more efficient pedestrian movement in the city centre.

Scramble crossings stop all vehicle traffic at once, allowing people to cross in any direction, including diagonally, during a dedicated pedestrian phase.

Clear signage will be installed at both intersections to guide pedestrians on permitted crossing directions.

The stopping of all vehicle traffic at once and the countdown timer provides greater clarity, safety, and confidence for people with disabilities and senior members of the community.

The works are scheduled overnight to minimise disruption for road users and nearby businesses.

This rollout will be supported by a targeted public awareness campaign to help both pedestrians and drivers understand how scramble crossings work. The City will develop clear guidance and educational materials to assist peoplein navigating these intersections across the Hobart CBD.

Quotes to be attributed to Hobart Lord Mayor Cr Anna Reynolds:

"Over 11,500 people cross at Elizabeth and Liverpool streets each day, nearly 9,000 cross at Murray and Liverpool, and there are similar numbers of pedestrians in Collins Street each day," Councillor Reynolds said.

"Our scramble crossings make the city easier and safer for people on foot to get around. Stopping all traffic at once gives people a predictable, dedicated time to cross, reducing conflicts with turning vehicles and improving safety.

"We're completing these works at night to minimise disruption, and we'll be rolling out a public awareness campaign to help people understand how the new crossings work. This is all part of our long-term commitment to building a walkable, more accessible, and more people-focused city."

Quotes to be attributed to senior Hobart citizen Allan McConnell:

"What I really appreciate about the scramble crossings is that I can cross in any direction and clearly see how many seconds I have left before the signal changes. It makes the whole experience feel much safer and more predictable.

"I used scramble crossings a lot on the mainland, so it's great to see them here in Hobart now."