The Albanese and Rockliff Governments are proud to mark a historic milestone for Tasmania, with the official opening of the new Bridgewater Bridge - the largest transport infrastructure project in the state's history.
The $786 million project represents a significant investment in Tasmania's future, delivering modern infrastructure that improves connectivity, enhances freight and passenger movement, and supports economic growth across the state.
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.
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.
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.
It replaces ageing infrastructure with a state-of-the-art structure that will serve the people of Tasmania for decades to come.
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.
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.
It has been designed to support growth throughout the region and has been built with a vision towards the future of the state.
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.
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.
This ensures the state's workforce is equipped for the pipeline of future Tasmanian infrastructure projects.
The new bridge will open to traffic from tomorrow (Monday, 2 June) with all four lanes operating at 80 km/h.
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.
