Improvements made to design of new Bridgewater Bridge

There is finally concrete movement on the Bridgewater Bridge project with the preferred tenderer named and improvements made to its design. WATCH VIDEO >>

TASMANIA’S biggest-ever transport infrastructure project has hit an important milestone with the State Government naming McConnell Dowell Constructors as the preferred tenderer.

“The current bridge is out of date but services 22,000 movements every day. Government’s have been talking about replacing this bridge for 30 years. We are going to build it,” Tasmanian Infrastructure Minister Michael Ferguson said.

The company’s winning design features a new, stand-alone four-lane bridge downstream of the existing bridge with interchanges at Granton and Bridgewater, a shared path for cyclists and pedestrians and a navigation height matching the Bowen Bridge.

There will also be a southbound on-ramp from Bridgewater, and more connections between the Brooker and Lyell highways allowing easier access for motorists travelling to and from New Norfolk.

New Bridgewater Bridge concept image

Brighton Mayor Leigh Gray welcomed the on-ramp and said it was gratifying to finally see the project about to become reality.

The Federal Government has bumped up its funding towards the replacement of the Bridgewater Bridge by $167.8m to take its total commitment to $628.8m.

McConnell Dowell Constructors will now start design-specific site investigations, finalise designs and prepare construction management plans in early 2022.

Construction of the new bridge is due to start in the middle of next year.

Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Michael Bailey said the project would provide a huge boost to the Tasmanian economy, benefiting both businesses and communities.

Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said the new bridge would fix the missing link in Tasmania’s national highway.

“The upgrade will benefit approximately 22,000 people that travel across the bridge each day, including local residents, commuters and freight vehicles,” Mr Joyce said.

“Construction will support around 830 jobs, including the creation of more than 200 new jobs for locals. This will deliver an important economic boost to the local economy.”

Roads Australia said the new bridge was destined to become an iconic piece of transport infrastructure which would unlock safety and productivity outcomes, enhance economic opportunities and improve community amenity.

“As well as providing a significant boost to the capacity of Hobart’s road network and reducing travel times for commuters, the new stand-alone four-lane bridge will be of significant benefit to freight movement between northern and southern Tasmania. Reducing freight transit times is especially important as the state’s population grows and local producers seek opportunities to take their goods into new markets,” CEO Michael Kilgariff said.

The Bridgewater Bridge project is a key part of Canberra’s $1.7B Hobart City Deal.

“The government is serious about ensuring this project is cost-effective and is also a real benefit for the Tasmanians who use the bridge every day,” Minister Ferguson said,” Mr Ferguson said.

VEC Civil Engineering is one of a number of Tasmanian businesses that will partner with McConnell Dowell to build the bridge.

“There’s exceptional capability within the Tasmanian construction industry, and a project of this scale needs to draw on all of that and more,” VEC’s Manager Structures, Civil Tasmania Daniel Longey said.