Tasman Bridge upgrade designs released

Hobart's Tasman Bridge — Artists’s impression of the Tasman Bridge upgrades. Image courtesy of the Tasmanian Government.

Designs for Hobart’s $130 million Tasman Bridge Pathways Upgrade have been released for public consultation.

The first major upgrade to the bridge since 1975, the project is jointly funded between the Federal and Tasmanian governments, with each committing $65 million.

Built in 1965 to replace the Hobart Bridge, the Tasman Bridge has become one of Tasmania’s most iconic landmarks.

The upgrades will include adding a 3.5 metre pathway on each side of the bridge for better pedestrian and cyclist access, heightened safety barriers, upgraded maintenance infrastructure, and feature and security lighting.

The bridge will also be structurally strengthened to support the upgrades and allow for future traffic demands.

A new lane use management system for peak-hour lane control will also be introduced. Automating the previously manual task will aim to improve traffic flow and remove the need for workers on the road.

Catherine King, Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, said the Federal Government was committed to improving road safety and access.

“The Tasman Bridge forms part of the key urban freight and passenger corridor in Hobart, being a vital link between the eastern and western suburbs of the city,” she said.

Michael Ferguson, Tasmanian Minster for Infrastructure and Transport, said the upgrades would improve safety and ease of use for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles, as well as enhance its appearance.

“The upgrade will make this iconic and much-loved Tasmanian landmark and critical transport link more suitable for contemporary demands, including the growing number of people looking for an alternative to car use,” he said.

The community has been invited to provide feedback on the designs, with consultation open until Tuesday, 19 July.

A tender for the final design and construction of the project will be released in late 2022, with construction expected to commence mid-2023.

For more information, visit: www.transport.tas.gov.au