Bridge cash in roads funds plan

THE Hodgman Government will commit $46 million over five years towards the $576 million cost of a replacement Bridgewater Bridge if it is re-elected.

Transport Minister Rene Hidding announces an election promise to widen and improve the road between Richmond and Cambridge. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

THE Hodgman Government will commit $46 million over five years towards the $576 million cost of a replacement Bridgewater Bridge if it is re-elected.

The bridge announcement was part of $300 million in roads funding statewide and follows a recent $72 million for tourist roads and $12 million for West Tamar Highway improvements.

It came as the major parties accused each other of overspending during the election campaign.

Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding said the $46 million commitment would go towards the state’s 20 per cent share of the cost of the bridge.

“This will ensure that, upon re-election, we can move immediately to complete negotiations with the Federal Government,” he said.

The Government submitted a business case to Infrastructure Australia last month with replacement of the bridge expected to form the centrepiece of the next commonwealth-state infrastructure agreement, which will start in mid-2019.

Labor infrastructure spokesman Shane Broad said the Liberals were treating the people who wanted to see the Bridgewater Bridge completed with contempt and disrespect.

“How many relaunches has there been of this policy?,” he said. “We saw in the Budget for the first time ever a line item for infrastructure with $0 allocated over four years for the Bridgewater Bridge.

“Now in the midst of an election the Liberals are saying they’ll suddenly fund it.

“Labor is in the process of announcing roads for our $60 million community roads package but we will roll it out and not sit on it for four years.”

Mr Hidding promised $142 million to northern roads, $62 million to North-West roads and $96 million to southern projects.

Southern projects include:

$24.3 MILLION for a rebuild of Richmond Rd including a bypass of Cambridge connecting to the Acton roundabout.

$22 MILLION for the East Derwent Highway at Geilston Bay with a new four-lane section north of Golf Links Rd.

UNSPECIFIED amount to divert the Channel Highway away from the river’s edge at Huonville.

$1.5 MILLION for safety works on the Huon Highway.

ADDRESS safety concerns at the Channel Highway intersection at Howden and the Huon Highway intersection with Sandfly Rd.

$2 MILLION for shoulder widening and surface improvements on Mudwalls Rd.

Northern projects include:

$4 MILLION for priority upgrades including the Tasman Highway, Musselroe Rd and Bridport Rd.

$3 MILLION towards sealing the road between Tomahawk and Gladstone.

$2 MILLION towards progressive sealing of Prossers Rd.

$4 MILLION for widening and improvements on Esk Main Rd

$1.5 MILLION for pedestrian crossing at Campbell Town.

$2.5 MILLION for an overtaking lane on Tasman Highway near Myrtle Park.

$1 MILLION for works on Evandale Rd.

$2.66 MILLION for Launceston entry point beautification.

“A centrepiece of our plan is to build the infrastructure our state needs, and this investment will significantly improve road safety and allow motorists to get to their destination sooner,” Mr Hidding said.

In the North-West:

$40 MILLION to upgrade Bass Highway west of Wynyard.

$20 MILLION to upgrade the Bass Highway between Deloraine and Latrobe.

$2 MILLION cycling grants program.