Brighton Mayor Tony Foster demands State Government action on new Bridgewater Bridge

THE Brighton Council is demanding the State Government tell Tasmanians when work will begin on the replacement Bridgewater Bridge following the absence of funding in the Federal Budget.

An artist’s impression of a replacement Bridgewater Bridge. Image: SUPPLIED

THE Brighton Council is demanding the State Government tell Tasmanians when work will begin on the replacement Bridgewater Bridge following the absence of funding in the Federal Budget.

A replacement for the 70-year-old bridge, which averages 18,500 vehicles a day, had previously been named by southern Tasmanian councils as their top infrastructure goal for the region.

Lifting failures on the bridge have caused chaos on the Hobart to Launceston artery, adding to the South’s traffic woes. In April last year, the State Government unveiled plans for a replacement bridge, with four lanes and a clearance height of 16m. The aim was to begin construction in 2019.

No federal funding for the $535 million project was included in this week’s Budget.

Brighton Mayor Tony Foster said the State Government should announce a timetable for the replacement bridge and how it will secure the necessary funding.

Brighton Mayor Tony Foster is calling on the State Government to reveal how and when the ageing bridge will be upgraded. PIC: MATT THOMPSON

“[Infrastructure] Minister Rene Hidding has described a new Bridgewater Bridge as the single biggest transport infrastructure project in Tasmania since the construction of the Tasman Bridge — well it seems that it is not going to be built for some time,” he said.

“The impact will be felt, not only in Brighton which is experiencing considerable growth, but also in the wider region that relies on the Bridgewater Bridge as a key North-South link.

“The State Government was unable to convince its Commonwealth counterpart of the need and this vital Tasmanian project has now met with deaf ears in Canberra.”

He said the planned start date of 2019 was “less than two years away and the State Government must now tell us how this important project will proceed”.

Mr Hidding said the State Government did not expect the Budget to include funding to replace the bridge. He said a business case was under development by Infrastructure Tasmania, which was also having discussions with Infrastructure Australia about the project.

“Mayor Foster should be aware that funding for the Bridgewater Bridge is expected to be detailed in the next five-year national partnership agreement between the Tasmanian and Australian Governments to begin in two years,” Mr Hidding said.