Plans to upgrade the Tasman Bridge in Tasmania, Australia, will not include a 3.5m wide pathway for cyclists, but will focus on other improvements for pedestrians and cyclists.
Designs for the upgrade released in 2022 included a 3.5m pathway on either side of the bridge (link opens in new tab). But Jeremy Rockliff, the state premier of Tasmania has this week said that 3.5m pathways for pedestrians and cyclists could not be installed without breaking the project’s budget.
The revised design has 3m safety barriers on the water side and 1.4m roadside barriers. It also includes passing bays, as well as improved connections on the shore.
The upgrade to the 1.4km bridge over the Derwent River will include strengthening of the deck. As part of another project, the Tasmanian government is improving the bridge’s lane use management system.
The Australian and Tasmanian governments have provided US$89.5 million towards the upgrade project.
The Tasman Bridge famously collapsed in 1975 after a strike by a ship. The collapse effectively isolated the communities on the city’s eastern shore.
