Everything ready and in place to finally bridge the gap

UPDATE: A free ferry service operating between Bellerive and Hobart’s Brooke St Pier has proven a popular way to avoid heavy traffic caused by the Remembrance Bridge project.

Cranes lift the final span on the Bridge of Remembrance into place at the Hobart Cenotaph. Picture: CRAIG GARTH

UPDATE: A FREE ferry service operating between Bellerive and Hobart’s Brooke St Pier has proven a popular way to travel from the Eastern Shore to the city today while a section of the Tasman Highway is closed for the installation of the Bridge of Remembrance.

A Hobart City Council spokesman said 1000 people had travelled by ferry from Bellerive to the city this morning and 400 had travelled from the city to Bellerive.

To cope with demand, a second, larger ferry has also been brought in to transport passengers.

Motorists are experiencing traffic delays as cars are backed up to Risdon Rd travelling south into the city as vehicles are diverted along the Domain Highway from the Tasman Bridge and traffic is also slow heading north from the CBD.

The council spokesman said the bridge installation was going smoothly and there were no issues to report.

Work continues on the Bridge of Remembrance at Hobart's Cenotaph. Picture: ANNE MATHER

The Tasman Highway is closed between the Tasman Bridge and Brooker Ave until 6am Monday, but it is possible the road could be reopened earlier.

If the road is to be reopened earlier, Hobart City Council will make an announcement tomorrow.

The span across the Tasman Highway was lifted into place in the early hours of this morning.

Workers are now welding the bridge together.

The new bridge links the Domain and the Cenotaph.

MORE:

LIFT OFF AT LAST FOR BRIDGE OF REMEMBRANCE

SPAN STILL MISSING ON BRIDGE TO NOWHERE

THIRD GREEN LIGHT FOR REMEMBRANCE BRIDGE

WEATHER FORECAST ENDS BRIDGE LIFT BID

EARLIER:

Hobart’s trouble-plagued Bridge of Remembrance is finally taking shape with the missing span being lifted into place early today.

The Hobart City Council released images on social media of the span being lifted over the Tasman Highway at dawn.

Two cranes lift the final span on the Bridge of Remembrance into place at the Hobart Cenotaph this morning. Picture: HOBART CITY COUNCIL

The bridge was raised three months after it’s planned opening on November 11.

Cranes work on the final span on the Bridge of Remembrance at the Hobart Cenotaph. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

EARLIER: AN eerie silence has descended on the Tasman Highway.

Road workers put the finishing touches to a sophisticated cone set-up to block the highway at Brooker Ave and the Tasman Bridge for the entire weekend.

A lone security guard stood on the empty road and a flurry of construction workers were busy setting up equipment.

The Tasman Highway near the Cenotaph was closed at 7pm for the lifting of the span on the Bridge of Remembrance. Pictures: MATT THOMPSON

And one of the site bosses stood sipping a cuppa in preparation for the long night ahead.

By this morning, the span of Hobart’s newest bridge should be in place.

Cranes are due to raise the Bridge of Remembrance about 3am on Saturday — three months later than planned.

MORE:

LIFT OFF AT LAST FOR BRIDGE OF REMEMBRANCE

SPAN STILL MISSING ON BRIDGE TO NOWHERE

THIRD GREEN LIGHT FOR REMEMBRANCE BRIDGE

WEATHER FORECAST ENDS BRIDGE LIFT BID

Part of the span lies in waiting just outside Macquarie Point ahead of the morning lift.

Acting Hobart Lord Mayor Helen Burnet said it would be a “landmark” moment for the city.

“We’ve had relatively good weather today to be able to start the process and we would like to think perhaps we wake up with the new bridge tomorrow morning,” she said yesterday.

“We’ve had a number of false starts because of weather and specifications, but that’s behind us now — we’re looking forward to waking up and having the new spans in place.”

The Tasman Highway will be closed until 6am on Monday.

Ald Burnet said motorists should expect delays and would need to make alternative arrangements. Ferry services will operate between Bellerive and Brooke St Pier about every 30 minutes from 8.10am to 5.30pm today.

“It’s a free ferry and a really good opportunity to get on to the water,” she said.

“If you’re coming to Salamanca, leave the car at home or at Bellerive.

“It’s a wonderful trip, so that’s a good alternative.”

The bridge will be welded together across the rest of the weekend.