RACT says get going on new Bridgewater bridge

Having lobbied for a new Bridgewater bridge for years, Tasmania’s peak motoring body says infrastructure commitments from state and federal government must be followed up with the money actually being spent. SEE THE TIMELINE

MORE than 16 years and 10 state and federal government elections — but still no new Bridgewater bridge.

The 1940s bridge is at the end of its serviceable life and no longer fit to carry the massive volumes of traffic on the main road that links northern and southern Tasmania.

A new bridge was promised to Tasmanians in the early 2000s at a cost of $150 million.

Over the years the cost has grown to $576 million, however the State Government is reviewing its business case amid concerns from Infrastructure Australia and the Federal Government that the cost will outweigh the benefits.

And the coronavirus crisis, which will decimate the state and federal budgets, adds further uncertainty.

The Bridgewater Bridge.

The State Government’s share of the bridge bill is $115 million, the Federal Government’s share is $461 million.

Having lobbied for the bridge for years, Tasmania’s peak motoring body, the RACT, says infrastructure commitments from state and federal government must be followed up with the money actually being spent.

RACT general manager membership and community Stacey Pennicott said a new bridge was a priority.

Stacey Pennicott. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

“It is also important in a greater infrastructure spending context. While we want to ensure that a final design for the bridge is future-proofed, we do not want to see any delays on the Bridgewater bridge replacement impact other infrastructure and mobility investment decisions. Money allocated for the bridge replacement needs to be quarantined from other more recently identified infrastructure projects,” Ms Pennicott said.

“Appropriate infrastructure spending now and into the future has the RACT’s strong support given significant underspending in recent years in this important investment area.”

Ms Pennicott said the issue also related to public safety.

“Any delays have the potential to adversely impact longer-term road safety initiatives,” she said.

Infrastructure Minister Michael Ferguson said despite a rejig of the bridge design, construction was expected to be complete in 2024.

“The Australian and Tasmanian governments have locked in the budgeted $576 million to fund the replacement of the existing Bridgewater bridge with a fit-for-purpose solution, and are working closely to further explore the options to deliver the best solution within the current funding,” Mr Ferguson said.

Consultants have been called in to help the State Government make the new design work and to rein in costs.

Pitt and Sherry has been engaged to do geotechnical investigations to support the scoping and development of the bridge, including analysis of the ground conditions and river sediment.

Burbury Consulting has been engaged to help address matters raised by Infrastructure Australia.

BRIDGEWATER BRIDGE TIMELINE:

2004: Federal Coalition government pledges $100m for a new bridge, which is expected to cost up to $150m.

2005: Funding earmarked is diverted to a package to rescue the state’s rail network and to the future Brighton bypass.

2006: The bridge lifting span suffers problems and is closed to river traffic.

2007: Coalition again commits $100m for a new bridge while federal Labor promises a $14m upgrade to the bridge’s lifting span

2010: Lifting span upgraded.

2011: Concept design released by Labor state government says a new bridge will cost between $600m and $800m.

2011-2015: Multiple lifting span failures

2012: State government gets $6.4m from the federal government to buy property at Bridgewater and Granton to make way for a new bridge.

2015: Liberal government sets up a project team to come up with a bridge design.

2016: State government unveils new plan with a price tag of $535m. Over the next two years the cost grows to $576m.

May 2018: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull pledges $461m towards a new bridge.

February 2019: New bridge included in Hobart City Deal and is set to be completed in 2024.

July 2019: Infrastructure Australia declines to list the bridge as a priority project, citing the project’s huge cost and potential “unresolved engineering issues” that could add further cost.

September 2019: Three Greater Hobart mayors question whether the bridge replacement is the right way to go, given the cost.

October 2019: The federal Infrastructure Department reveals the business case for the bridge is being revised.

December 2019: Consultants Pitt and Sherry given $856,647 to conduct geotechnical work that will inform a new strategy on the bridge.

January 2020: Government advertises a $200,000 a year position for a person to manage the bridge project.

February 2020: The State Government awards a consultant $590,000 to look at how to make the bridge cheaper to build.