New Bridgewater Bridge gets the green light

The independent Major Project Assessment Panel appointed by the Tasmanian Planning Commission has approved the construction of the new Bridgewater Bridge.

The receipt of planning approval paves the way for work to start later this year on what will be the State’s biggest ever transport infrastructure project.

The $786 million project, funded by the Australian and Tasmanian Governments, will be delivered over the next three years and will see a new four-lane bridge built downstream of the existing Bridgewater Bridge.

The new crossing will fix the missing link between the Brooker Highway and Midland Highway, reducing congestion and providing more reliable travel times for the more than 22,000 people that use it every day.

New interchanges at Bridgewater and Granton will improve connections to the Lyell Highway and Midland Highway and a dedicated shared path will ensure cyclists and pedestrians can safely cross the river.

Construction will support around 830 jobs, including the creation of more than 200 new jobs for Tasmanians, delivering an important economic boost to the local economy.

The project is the first to utilise the Tasmanian Government’s new Land Use Planning and Approvals Amendment (Major Project) Bill 2020 owing to its size, complexity and significance to the State’s economy.

The coordinated assessment of the project was undertaken by an independent expert panel appointed by the Tasmanian Planning Commission with expertise provided by relevant statutory regulators including the EPA, Heritage Tasmania and TasWater.

Community feedback received throughout the process has been integral in shaping the project, and the project team t will continue to work closely with the community as the project moves towards the construction phase.

Confirmation of conditions determined as part of the permit will now allow the project team to proceed in delivering activities including heritage interpretation of the area and engagement with the community around the timing of construction and impacts to traffic.

The project remains on track to execute a Design and Construct Deed with contractor McConnell Dowell by mid-year, ahead of the start of major construction in the second half of 2022.

The new bridge will be open to traffic by the end of 2024.