Media release – Michael Ferguson, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport; Catherine King, Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, and Federal Member for Franklin, Julie Collins, 27 June 2022
Tasman Bridge upgrade concept designs released for public consultation
Concept plans for improvements to the Tasman Bridge have been released for public comment today.
This will be the first major upgrade to the bridge since 1975 and is a commitment under the Hobart City Deal to improve access in the city.
The $130 million project is jointly funded by the Australian and Tasmanian governments, with each committing $65 million of taxpayers’ funds.
Major improvements will include providing a 3.5 metre wide pathway on each side of the bridge, heightened safety barriers, upgraded maintenance infrastructure and feature lighting. The pathways will allow for active transport including walking and cycling in a much safer and accessible ways.
Vitally, the bridge will be structurally strengthened to support the addition of the bigger pathways and allow for future traffic demands.
We want to invite our local community to have their say on the concept designs from Monday, 27 June to Tuesday, 19 July 2022 by visiting www.transport.tas.gov.au/tasmanbridge.
There will also be displays of the concept designs at the offices of Clarence City Council and City of Hobart, and at the Eastlands Shopping Centre, Bellerive Yacht Club, Lindisfarne Sailing Club and Libraries Tasmania’s Hobart library.
Feedback will be used to inform the development of a reference design, which will also be made public.
A tender for the final design and construction of the upgrade will be released in late 2022, with construction expected to start from mid 2023.
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:
“The Tasman Bridge forms part of the key urban freight and passenger corridor in Hobart, being a vital link between the eastern and western suburbs of the city.
“The Australian Government is committed to improving road safety and access, to ensure commuters get home safe and sound, and that’s exactly what this upgrade is all about.”
Quotes attributable to Tasmanian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Michael Ferguson:
“The upgrade will make this iconic and much-loved Tasmanian landmark and critical transport link more suitable for contemporary demands, including the growing number of people looking for an alternative to car use.
“It will improve safety and ease of use for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles and enhance its appearance.”
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Franklin, Julie Collins:
“I know more and more eastern shore residents are choosing to walk or ride on the Tasman Bridge so these upgrades are critical for safety.”
“I encourage residents to take the opportunity to provide feedback on the concept designs.”
News item – Bicycle Network, 28 June 2022
Tasman Bridge path designs are here!
It’s been a long wait since the October 2020 announcement that we’d be getting new cycling paths on the Tasman Bridge but this week designs have been released for public comment.
The government’s promise of 3.5 metre wide paths on both sides have been honoured in the designs, which show pink paths with high metal outer barriers.
There is some wind protection up to about waist height on the outer barriers and internally a higher 1.4 metre rail separating people from the traffic lanes.
The new paths will be hung off the side of the bridge next to the current narrow maintenance walkways and will have new lighting installed for safer early morning and night-time trips.
It won’t just be cyclists who benefit from the new paths, with the path on the southern side of the bridge being disability compliant. This means there will be flattened spots to give people on mobility devices the chance to rest, similar to the surface on the Bridge of Remembrance in Hobart.
The northern path will be a smoother surface and will be the side of the bridge that would link up to a potential pathway along the Tasman Highway that has been planned but not funded.
So, while there are currently no plans for separating people walking and riding, it may eventuate that people riding choose the smoother northern path surface, leaving the southern side to people walking.
On the city side of the river, there will be a new access ramp built for the pathway on the southern side that will link it directly into the Intercity Cycleway. On the eastern side, the current access path will be widened to 3.5 metre width and will have better lighting.
And for regular cyclists the hated maintenance gantries will be removed as service workers will be able to access the pipes and wires via the new paths.
Have your say
The Department of State Growth has set up a webpage for you to comment on the path design before 19 July.
The artist’s impression uses pink in a nod to the popular Nelson Street Cycleway in Auckland so if you like it let them know and if you don’t, come up with a better colour.
We’ve heard from members that wind is a big problem so you need to think about whether the wider path and the proposed outer barrier wind protection will be enough to make your ride safer.
You can see all the comments on the design on the social poinpoint map. The prospect of safer, more comfortable paths has already provoked great ideas to improve the connections on either side.
The next step in the project is to work through the public commentary to see if any changes need to be made to the design.
The project will then be advertised for a company to tender to do the final detailed designs and construction in the next few months with a successful tender announced later this year, a detailed design finished in early 2023 and construction to begin in mid 2023.
While we won’t know what the construction timeframe will look like until the successful tenderer is chosen, it’s hoped that one path will be completed before work begins on the other so that we can start riding before the final completion date of late 2025.
The $130 million bridge strengthening project, which includes the new paths, is being funded jointly by the Australian and Tasmanian governments.
