Michael Ferguson,Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
The work to build the New Bridgewater Bridge is progressing, with the formal release of approved design requirements for the bridge today.
This is a major project that will benefit Tasmanians for generations, and it is vital we get it right.
The eight design requirements are broadly consistent with those determined through previous community consultation and engagement with Infrastructure Australia, and include the number of traffic lanes, road height and the inclusion of pedestrian and cycle facilities.
It was previously thought the design requirements may need to be substantially reduced in order to achieve the project budget, however, a range of possible bridge designs are capable of meeting the requirements and two high level concept designs have been released.
The Australian and Tasmanian governments have committed $576 million to the new river crossing at Bridgewater, which is the largest ever investment in a single transport infrastructure project in Tasmania's history.
The Bridgewater Bridge is a critical part of the transport and freight link between the state's north and south, and the project will support growth and commercial development in Hobart's outer northern suburbs.
An Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) process will start in the coming weeks, with a Request for Proposal (RFP) stage. This is a new delivery model for Tasmania, and strongly supported by industry in order to gain maximum industry engagement.
The RFP process is a major step forward for this project and will see two tenderers selected to enter a competitive design process to determine a final design and achieve the best value for the community.
Involving contractors in the early stages of the project design allows for closer involvement in the development of the designs, providing opportunities for industry innovation and construction efficiencies.
Geotechnical, environmental and heritage surveys are currently underway, and must be completed before the final design and alignment can be confirmed.
Work on the project is due to begin in 2022, and people will be driving on the new bridge by the end of 2024.
To view the design requirements and concept designs, visit www.transport.tas.gov.au/newbridgewaterbridge
