{"id":32987,"date":"2025-06-02T21:12:45","date_gmt":"2025-06-02T11:12:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/?p=32987"},"modified":"2025-06-02T21:12:45","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T11:12:45","slug":"a-new-era-for-tasmania-opening-of-the-new-bridgewater-bridge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/2025\/06\/02\/a-new-era-for-tasmania-opening-of-the-new-bridgewater-bridge\/","title":{"rendered":"A new era for Tasmania: Opening of the new Bridgewater Bridge"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Albanese and Rockliff Governments are proud to mark a historic milestone for Tasmania, with the official opening of the new Bridgewater Bridge \u2013 the largest transport infrastructure project in the state\u2019s history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The $786 million project represents a significant investment in Tasmania\u2019s future, delivering modern infrastructure that improves connectivity, enhances freight and passenger movement, and supports economic growth across the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Australian Government contributed $628.8 million to the transformative project, with the Tasmanian Government contributing the remaining $157.2 million. The new bridge has been delivered on time and on budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The new four-lane bridge will deliver faster, more reliable travel times for commuters, freight operators and locals, significantly reducing bottlenecks on this key section of the highway network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The new bridge is the fifth to be built across the River Derwent at Bridgewater and symbolises the next chapter in the evolution of this critical transport link.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It replaces ageing infrastructure with a state-of-the-art structure that will serve the people of Tasmania for decades to come.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 1.2-kilometre-long crossing will improve safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists, with new interchanges, a 3-metre-wide shared path and modern safety features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The bridge also includes improved access for marine traffic, with a higher clearance and no lift span, reducing delays and improving efficiency for both road and river users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It has been designed to support growth throughout the region and has been built with a vision towards the future of the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since construction began in October 2022, the project has supported around 1000 jobs, more than 25 per cent of which were employees from the local area. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thanks to targeted employment and training programs, the project has created pathways for apprentices, trainees and people new to the civil construction industry to gain real-world experience on a nationally significant construction site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This ensures the state\u2019s workforce is equipped for the pipeline of future Tasmanian infrastructure projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The new bridge will open to traffic from tomorrow (Monday, 2 June) with all four lanes operating at 80&nbsp;km\/h.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Works across the project site will continue over coming weeks, including landscaping, construction of the new roundabout linking Old Main Road and Gunn Street, and removal of the temporary bridge and barges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information about the project and to see the latest flythrough footage, visit the project website at bridgewaterbridge.tas.gov.au.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy Government is building Australia\u2019s future by investing in transformative transport infrastructure like the Bridgewater Bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe have worked with the Tasmanian Government to deliver a landmark project that will improve safety, deliver a better commuter experience, and boost productivity in this great state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Bridgewater Bridge is about more than meeting the needs of Tasmanians today &#8211; it\u2019s about making sure that Tasmanians have the world class infrastructure they deserve for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Premier of Tasmania Jeremy Rockliff<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis is a bridge built by Tasmanians for Tasmanians, and is something that everyone in the State can be proud of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Bridgewater Bridge has been talked about for decades, but together with every person involved in this project, we have delivered it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe new Bridge is a testament to what we can achieve in Tasmania when we work together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMajor infrastructure projects like this inspire, support our economy, upskill our people, and build a better Tasmania: now and for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI want to acknowledge the Federal Government for working with us to deliver this inter-generational infrastructure for Tasmania.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe first Bridgewater Bridge opened in 1848, and today we\u2019re opening the fifth, marking a historic milestone in the history of Tasmania.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cInvesting in major infrastructure projects doesn\u2019t just keep people and goods moving, it provides an ongoing boost to local economies through more efficient and effective transport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe are proud to partner with the Tasmanian Government and local industry to deliver this important project which will improve safety, support economic growth and leave a lasting legacy for future generations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tasmanian Minister for Infrastructure Kerry Vincent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis bridge stands as a testament to what can be achieved when we work together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt is more than just concrete and steel. It is a once-in-a-generation project and a symbol of what the future holds for Tasmania.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI want to thank the local community for their patience and understanding during the construction period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe resilience of the local community and the travelling public are what has made this landmark of national significance a success.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Albanese and Rockliff Governments are proud to mark a historic milestone for Tasmania, with the official opening of the new Bridgewater Bridge \u2013 the largest transport infrastructure project in the state\u2019s history. The $786 million project represents a significant investment in Tasmania\u2019s future, delivering modern infrastructure that improves connectivity, enhances freight and passenger movement, &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/2025\/06\/02\/a-new-era-for-tasmania-opening-of-the-new-bridgewater-bridge\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;A new era for Tasmania: Opening of the new Bridgewater Bridge&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32987","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-aussie"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32987","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32987"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32987\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32988,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32987\/revisions\/32988"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32987"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32987"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32987"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}