Construction company McConnell Dowell has commenced early works on the New Bridgewater Bridge project in Hobart, with the first of its marine plants now on site.
The $786 million project is jointly funded by the Federal and Tasmanian governments, and will be the largest ever transport infrastructure project undertaken in the state.
The project aims to make travel safer and more efficient, connect local communities, and transform the way people travel between the north and south of the state.
The new four-lane, one-kilometre-long bridge will address the perceived missing link in Tasmania’s National Highway, improving connections at Bridgewater and Granton, as well as catering for cyclists and pedestrians with a safe shared path.
It will replace the existing 1940s era bridge, cutting travel times for the 22,000 motorists that use the route daily, and improving freight routes around Hobart.
A new ramp from Boyer Road onto the bridge will offer easy access for local southbound traffic, while Gunn Street will connect to Old Main Road under the new bridge to create a continuous connection, as well as more open space.
On the southern side of the river, the journey from Hobart to New Norfolk will be uninterrupted, with the creation of a dedicated slip lane from the Brooker Highway onto the Lyell Highway.
The design follows extensive planning, design work and community engagement to find the best solution to meet the current and future needs of the community.
The project is expected to create more than 200 new jobs for Tasmanians, and support more than 800 direct and indirect jobs.
McConnell Dowell signed the final design and construct contract in July, after being named as the preferred tenderer in December last year.
The project team is working closely with the community to finalise the design for the new bridge, and the public will have an opportunity to provide feedback before major construction starts later in 2022.
The new bridge is expected to open by the end of 2024.
For more information, visit: www.bridgewaterbridge.tas.gov.au
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