All talk and no action on Bridgewater bridge, like other infrastructure, isn’t good enough

The Bridgewater bridge delay is another example of much-needed infrastructure that is all talk and no action. The government and the local councils need to find solutions, writes Jenna Cairney.

IT’S the centrepiece of the Hobart City Deal but the new $576 million Bridgewater Bridge continues to divide opinion.

The 1940s bridge is at the end of its serviceable life and no longer fit to carry the massive volumes of traffic on the main road that links northern and southern Tasmania.

Construction was supposed to begin last year.

Today the Mercury reports that plans have been lodged to demolish several houses to clear the way for the new bridge.

But for Glenorchy Mayor Kristie Johnston it’s a worrying development as she says it’s premature because the government was reviewing the designs.

It’s the latest in a series of arguments over the bridge.

For the general public, it’s a frustrating debate.

We’ve seen more than a few photos of politicians in front of the old Bridgewater Bridge over the years, spruiking plans for a new and improved version.

The Bridgewater bridge is nearing the end of its serviceable life.

Indeed it’s been more than 16 years in the works and 10 state and federal government elections have passed since a new bridge was promised to Tasmanians at an initial cost of $150 million.

We’ve seen plenty of cash splashed on studies, business cases and reports – including $600,000 on a consultant whose job it was to find ways of making the project cheaper and more than $120,000 for a spin-doctor to manage the project’s public relations.

Organisations like Tasmania’s peak motoring body, the RACT, are sick of the delays and firmly in favour of breaking ground on the project. They say money allocated on the project needs to be quarantined and not spent on other items.

The funding is ready and waiting for the project to go ahead and, most of us, understand that especially at a time like this, the construction of major infrastructure will be an essential part of propping up our languishing economy while we wait for the reopening of our domestic and international borders.

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However, concerns have been raised from Infrastructure Australia and the Federal Government that the cost of the bridge will outweigh the benefits. The government also conducted a phone survey to canvass public opinion on the project earlier this year.

The government is looking at the design and trying to address issues raised by Infrastructure Australia.

Infrastructure Minister Michael Ferguson said despite a rejig of the bridge design, it was expected to be complete in 2024.

Three of the four mayors of surrounding councils say the proposed bridge is too expensive and a cheaper version could be built with the remaining funding used for other projects in their local government areas.

In Glenorchy, Mayor Johnston wants to see light rail funded. There’s no doubt a line into the Hobart CBD has the potential to transform her patch.

In Clarence, the council is desperate to find funding for a Derwent River ferry service – again a game changer for that growing area.

As much as we want to see infrastructure spend delivered, it’s challenging to understand why after all this time design works are still up for debate.

The government and the local councils need to find a solution to this project and get it going.