The Bridgewater bridge replacement has been examined in Senate estimates

A Labor Senator has asked if the $576 million bridge project will meet government timelines and costings. Here’s what the government said + where the project is at >>

• Second annual progress report for the $887m City Deal
• Bridgewater Bridge concept designs have been released

FEDERAL infrastructure officials are waiting for contractors chosen to work on Bridgewater bridge designs to let the government know if it’s possible for the project to be built on budget.

In a Senate estimates hearing focusing on rural and regional affairs and transport, Tasmanian Labor Senator Carol Brown asked if the $576 million bridge project would meet government timelines and costings.

Contractors are currently working on final designs, with a contract due to be awarded in late 2021, building to start in 2022 and the project to be finished in late 2024.

Options for the new Bridgewater Bridge. The second option would see a new four-lane bridge built, with two lanes in each direction.

Assistant secretary Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications Sarah Nattey said she was confident about the current timelines for the bridge.

“What’s different is there’s a very experienced project manager who also managed the delivery of the new Royal Hobart Hospital … they have a very strong team behind them there’s will from the government to ensure the governance arrangement delivers the publicly announced dates,” she said.

Ms Natty said the contractors would inform the government about the likely final cost.

“We will need to wait for the contractors to come back to us to say what is possible within that funding,” she said.

Labor Lyons MHR Brian Mitchell said it was alarming departmental officials could not rule out budget blowouts to the project.

Mr Mitchell said it was also concerning the department’s confidence in the Bridgewater bridge timeline was linked to the project being managed by the same people as the RHH redevelopment.

“The RHH redevelopment was years late, over budget and still isn’t properly finished,” he said.

In a recent mid-year state budget update Treasury named the RHH”s new K-Block building among ongoing potential risks to the state’s finances, revealing there were a number of outstanding issues with the building.