Thousands of Tasmanians register for Bridgewater Bridge community opening
Thousands of Tasmanians will put the new Bridgewater Bridge to the test on Sunday, with a whopping number of registrations received by the government for the opening. How you can join them.
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Almost 7000 Tasmanians will make their way over the new Bridgewater Bridge this Sunday as part of the formal unveiling of the project, marking an end to its two year and seven-month-long construction.
The public was invited a fortnight ago to walk the length of the $786m bridge to commemorate the build, which began in October 2022.
The bridge will then open to traffic the following day on Monday, June 2.
Infrastructure Minister Kerry Vincent said the day would be a “momentous day for all Tasmanians”.
“Almost 7000 Tasmanians have registered to take part in Sunday’s Bridgewater Bridge community day,” he said.
“It will be a momentous day for all Tasmanians, and it is fantastic that so many families are embracing the opportunity to celebrate the largest transport infrastructure project in Tasmania’s history.”
The build to replace the nearly 80-year-old existing bridge has faced its share of controversies and setbacks over the development and construction, including construction delays, disagreements with unions over public holiday work and misaligning bridge pieces.
The latest hiccup was criticism from Labor over the taxpayer-funded $100,000 celebration to open the bridge, with Shadow Treasurer Josh Willie calling the spending “extravagant”.
“Premier Rockliff’s $100,000 Bridgewater Bridge opening party is a perfect example of why Tasmania’s budget is completely blown on his watch,” he previously said.
The free community event has gone ahead however, and will feature food, live entertainment, family-friendly activities and the opportunity to walk across one of Tasmania’s biggest transport infrastructure projects.
The speed limit through the new Bridgewater Bridge project site will be reduced to 40km/h during the event period, with the Department of State Growth advising motorists to avoid the area unless attending the event and to seek alternative routes.
Traffic controllers will also be in place to assist pedestrians during the crossing of the bridge at 10.30am.
The community event will run from 10am to 4pm on Sunday, June 1.
Bridge walk sessions start from 10.15am through to 3.45pm.
Registrations are encouraged but not essential.
To register, head to the Bridgewater Bridge Opening Community Event & Bridge Walks Trybooking website page.
More Coverage
Originally published as Thousands of Tasmanians register for Bridgewater Bridge community opening
New digs finally open for Launceston Dogs’ Home
Storms last year left the Launceston Dogs’ Home yards looking pretty ruff. See inside their new exercise yards and how you can help to make them look paw-fect.
Smokerlyzer sparks change in young lives
For 20-year-old university student Sienna Scotney-Barron, a new smokerlyzer shocked her with its reading. How the new technology is helping to break smoking habits.