Strong winds slowed work on Bridge of Remembrance but project remains to track for highway to reopen this morning
Traffic is flowing under the completed Remembrance Bridge in Hobart. How does it look? Judge for yourself. SEE TODAY’S PICTURES, WATCH THE TIMELAPSE VIDEO
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
UPDATED: TRAFFIC is flowing under the completed Remembrance Bridge on the Queens Domain this morning.
Hobart City Council expected to have traffic moving from 6am today, and the planned works were completed on time.
The Tasman Highway between the Tasman Bridge and Brooker Avenue was closed from 7pm on Friday to facilitate the long-awaited and twice-deferred placement of the memorial bridge’s centre span.
There will be partial lane closures on the highway from this evening as final works on the bridge are completed.
Acting Lord Mayor Helen Burnet thanked members of the public for their patience during the road closure.
“I’m really pleased that all of the works that had been intended during that time has been completed,” Councillor Burnet said.
“That still means that there will be some work to be done before the bridge is open. In fact, after 7pm this evening and other nights during the week there will be part lane closures ... just so that some of the over-road can be completed.
“That’s things like welding and there’s still curing of metals and so forth to be completed, painting, and just getting some of the scaffolding out of the way so that everything can be properly ready for completion so that we can actually open the bridge.”
Cr Burnet said the bridge would not be opened to pedestrians for “a few more weeks”.
EARLIER: The Hobart City Council expected to have traffic flowing under the completed Remembrance Bridge on the Queens Domain from 6am today.
The Tasman Highway between the Tasman Bridge and Brooker Avenue was closed from 7pm on Friday to facilitate the long-awaited and twice deferred placement of the memorial bridge’s centre span.
Acting lord mayor Helen Burnet said strong winds yesterday slowed works but expectations remained for the installation to be secured in time for the road to be reopened for commuters this morning.
“It’s all going according to plan,” Cr Burnet said.
Traffic delays on the Brooker Highway were reported on Saturday but Cr Burnet said traffic was “moving fairly well” today.
The span over the Tasman Highway was lifted into place in the early hours of yesterday morning and workers have since been welding it in place.
Cr Burnet said she looked forward to the bridge opening to pedestrians and cyclists.
“It’s helping to make the Domain one again rather than that great slash of the Tasman Highway through it,” she said.
“It’s going to be such a great landmark coming into the city.”
Cr Burnet said she expected it would be some weeks before the bridge was opened to the public. “There’s still some engineering works and [other] works to be done so that everything’s safe,” she said.
Cr Burnet said she was thrilled with the popularity of the free ferry service the council provided yesterday between Bellerive and Brooke St Pier.
About 1659 people made the crossing from Hobart to Bellerive and about 1547 from Bellerive to Hobart.
“It’s not a long trip but a spectacular trip and it’s always good to be out on the water,” Cr Burnet said.
SEE THE GALLERY: THE BRIDGE GOES UP
EARLIER: Acting Lord Mayor Helen Burnet said strong winds yesterday slowed works but expectations remained for the installation to be completed in time for the road to be reopened at 6am tomorrow.
“It’s all going according to plan,” Councillor Burnet said.
Traffic delays on the Brooker Highway were reported yesterday but Cr Burnet said traffic was “moving fairly well” today.
The span of the bridge over the Tasman Highway was lifted into place in the early hours of yesterday morning and workers have since been welding the bridge together.
Cr Burnet said she looked forward to the bridge being opened to pedestrians and cyclists.
“It’s helping to make the Domain one again rather than that great slash of the Tasman Highway through it,” she said.
MORE
“It’s going to be such a great landmark coming into the city.”
Cr Burnet said she expected it would be some weeks before the bridge was opened to the public.
“There’s still some engineering works and [other] works to be done so that everything’s safe.”
Cr Burnet said she was thrilled with the popularity of the free ferry service the council provided yesterday between Bellerive and Hobart’s Brooke St Pier.
About 1659 people made the crossing from Hobart to Bellerive and about 1547 made the crossing from Bellerive to Hobart.
“It’s not a long trip but a spectacular trip and it’s always good to be out on the water,” Cr Burnet said.
Premier apologises to restaurateur over booking fumble
The government has apologised to a Launceston restaurant owner after a Liberal staffer cancelled a footy function because the owner spoke at a Labor press conference.
Van Dairy fighting mega tax bill from $280m purchase in 2016
A Chinese dairy company owner is appealing a court ruling over a $20m stamp duty tax bill. Here’s what the company’s defence says about the complex company structure.