Bridgewater Bridge concept designs have been released alongside eight essential design requirements

New concept designs for one of Tasmania’s most controversial pieces of infrastructure have been revealed, and there are some strict design requirements.

• RACT says get going on new Bridgewater bridge
• The State Government has given $1.4 million to two Bridgewater bridge consultants

THE state government has revealed new concept designs and its eight essential requirements for the new Bridgewater Bridge.

The design requirements include a minimum traffic speed of 80km/h, two lanes in each direction, a shared path for pedestrians and cyclists and safety screens and barriers.

Light rail isn’t included in the designs, but the government says the designs don’t preclude future use of the existing rail corridor.

Options for the new Bridgewater Bridge include a new four-lane bridge built, with two lanes in each direction.

A new river crossing between the Brooker Highway and Midland Highway, including connections to the Lyell Highway, is also included, as is a minimum aircraft clearance similar to the Bowen Bridge.

The project will also include the grade separation of the Lyell Highway Junction at Granton and Black Snake Lane.

The first concept design option would see a new two-lane bridge built, and the replacement of the existing bridge with a new version, providing two lanes in each direction.

The second option would see a new four-lane bridge built, with two lanes in each direction. The release of design requirements is a giant step forward for the $576 million project which has been 16 years and 10 state and federal government elections in the making.

An Early Contractor Involvement process will start in the coming weeks, with a Request for Proposal (RFP) stage, Transport Minister Michael Ferguson said.

Transport Minister Michael Ferguson said the Request for Proposal stage is competitive, and the two best tenders for the bridge will be selected. Picture: PATRICK GEE

“The RFP process is a major step forward for this project and will see two tenderers selected to enter a competitive design process to determine a final design and achieve the best value for the community,” he said. “This is a major project that will benefit Tasmanians for generations and it is vital we get it right.”

Brighton Mayor Tony Foster said the council had stressed the importance of the bridge replacements for years and said it was “now gratifying that this will become a reality in 2024 (upon its completion)”.

Derwent Valley Mayor Ben Shaw said an upgraded Bridgewater bridge would provide “a chance for our community to flourish and maximise the river access while creating a river highway as a mode of transport”.

Labor infrastructure spokesman Shane Broad said the Government’s bridge designs were “yet another empty announcement from a government that is notorious for not getting infrastructure projects out the door”.

RACT Chief Member Experience Officer Stacey Pennicott said the design announcement had been many years in the making.

“While the Bridgewater Bridge replacement has been subject to significant delays, we look forward to the project progressing and seeing the first stages of development commence at the earliest opportunity,” she said.

Labor infrastructure spokesman Shane Broad said the Government’s bridge designs were “yet another empty announcement from a government that is notorious for not getting infrastructure projects out the door”.

“Tasmanians deserve to know what stage the Bridgewater Bridge project is really at,” he said.