Tasmania Police has reopened the Huon Highway to all travellers after it was closed due to the threat posed by bushfires.

The road had been open to residents and service vehicles south of Huonville but restrictions have been lifted today, along with those on Glen Huon Rd, after they were declared safe.

Police have been working hard with other emergency services and State Government Agencies to ensure roads are safe and can be opened as soon as possible.

However, there are a number of smaller roads leading into burnt areas that are still to be assessed.

“Road closed” signs are being placed on these roads near the burnt areas and these will remain in place until they have been declared safe through expert advice.

There are also likely to be temporary speed limit changes in some areas because of emergency services activities.

It is also important to note that the threat isn’t over and there may be a need to close roads again if public safety is at risk.

While the Southern Regional Emergency Management Committee is making every effort to ensure roads that are open are safe and that warning signs are posted on roads yet to be assessed, the public is asked to take personal responsibility if choosing to drive in areas affected by bushfires.

We cannot say that any road is 100 per cent safe, even when these roads have been opened to the general public.

Factors that can make a road unsafe include:

• Dangerous driving conditions because of smoke, debris, escaped animals;
• Fire;
• Electrical or infrastructure damage;
• Trees that are still standing with potential to fall;
• Burnt and partially burnt trees and obstructions, and;
• The need for further assessment in relation to unidentified damage.

We thank the community for their patience during this difficult period and ask any member of the public who identifies a potentially dangerous situation on the roads to contact Tasmania Police on 131444.

Southern Regional Emergency Management Committee

Regional Controller, Commander Tony Cerritelli