Hobart City Council’s $6.5m Rose Garden Bridge finally open to the public

It has been a long time coming, but Hobart’s newest $6.5 million pedestrian bridge is now open to the public.

IT’S more than six months late, but Hobart City Council’s newest pedestrian bridge has finally opened to the public.

Construction work on the $6.5 million Rose Garden Bridge began in mid-2018, and the bridge was originally slated to open in October last year.

The all-abilities pedestrian and bicycle bridge over Brooker Ave, linking Bathurst St and the Domain, was funded through the City of Hobart’s Capital Works Program.

Workers were applying what appeared to be paint to the bridge surface in March. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

The opening was delayed multiple times largely due to replacement of the surface coating.

Last month, construction company VEC said application of the new non-slip surface to the bridge was “proceeding well and is expected to be complete by the end of the month”. In a statement released at 5pm yesterday, Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said the council took possession of the 60m bridge following a final inspection and it was immediately opened for public use.

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“While it’s disappointing that there have been delays on this project, we’re pleased to now be able to deliver this quality piece of active travel infrastructure that will last many years to come,” Cr Reynolds said.

The contractor sourced an alternative product and the original coating was removed and replaced, with several layers applied over a number of weeks.

Cr Reynolds said quality testing was carried out between each application. “The result is a safe, convenient and — most importantly — fully accessible pedestrian and cycle crossing of Brooker Ave,” she said.

Pedestrian bridge from the Domain to the city has been delayed for opening this year due to the surface not being up to standard. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

“Unlike the existing underpass, which is almost 60 years old, the new bridge is suitable for cyclists, parents with prams, people with wheelchairs and those with limited mobility.

“It’s been designed to provide a high level of accessibility and active travel amenity.”

A formal opening of the bridge will follow at a later date.

The statement did not outline how the delays would affect the overall cost of the bridge or whether VEC was in dispute with council over who was financially liable.