35 of Tasmania’s bridges are to be strengthened under a $100m program. Photo: stock
Strengthening work is under way or is planned for 21 bridges in Tasmania as part of a $100 million upgrade of the island’s road freight routes.
The projects are funded by the Australian and Tasmanian governments under a five-year freight capacity upgrade program; Canberra is spending $80m with $20m from the state government.
Already, 15 road and bridge strengthening projects have been completed including Pipers River Bridge and sections on the Bass, Midland, Lyell and Huon highways.
Work is now advanced on strengthening nine bridges under a $2.2 million contract awarded to construction company Fulton Hogan, according to the Tasmania Government.
Six of the nine bridges – at Argent River, Arthur River, Mole Creek, Leslie Station Creek, Don River and Pardoe Creek – are in the state’s north west.
The other bridges are at Wellards Creek, Norfolk Creek and Allans Creek on the Arthur Highway in the state’s south east.
Work is under way at eight sites as some near completion. Construction of the Leslie Station Creek bridge will start this year.
Current plans call for 35 bridges to be strengthened and three replaced under the freight capacity program.
EFFICIENCY DRIVE
Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Catherine King says the Federal Government is committed to improving road safety and freight efficiency across the state.
“We know how important it is to deliver infrastructure that will ease congested roads while also creating opportunities for Tasmanians,” she says.
Tasmanian Infrastructure Minister Kerry Vincent say Tasmania’s economic growth will benefit from greater freight efficiency that enables safer operating loads and make travel times more predictable for freight operators.
“It supports productivity by improving the roads freight vehicles travel on day to day,” he says.
“Repairing and strengthening these sections of road and bridges will also improve road safety for all road users and reduce maintenance costs.”
Tasmanian Senator Anne Urquhart says the works are “much-needed” to increase freight productivity for critical industries such as agriculture and manufacturing.
