In January 2009 the Rudd Government approved 10.5 million dollars[REF] to start excavation work on the Bypass,[REF] with the state government describing it as "the biggest infrastructure project in southern Tasmania" [REF].
The southernmost 2 km stretch of the Brighton Bypass opened to the public on Monday 13 December 2010, while the official opening of the Bypass was on Monday 12 November 2012[REF] - four months ahead of schedule [REF].