THE FEDERAL Minister for Infrastructure and Transport has revealed freight route upgrades are continuing with work underway on nine Tasmanian bridges.
MP Catherine King nine bridges are undergoing strengthening works, while tenders have opened to strengthen a further 12 bridges in 2025 as part of a $100 million upgrade of the island state’s freight routes.
The projects are jointly funded by the Australian and Tasmanian Governments under the five-year Freight Capacity Upgrade Program, with the Federal Government committing $80 million and the Tasmanian Government $20 million.
The program is intended to increase the freight capacity of critical and regional freight routes throughout Tasmania by strengthening or replacing various bridges and improving sections of roads.
MP King affirmed that to date, 15 road and bridge strengthening projects under the program have been completed across the state, including Pipers River Bridge and sections on the Bass, Midland, Lyell and Huon highways.
Work is now advanced on a package to strengthen nine bridges under a $2.2 million contract awarded to construction company Fulton Hogan.
Six of the nine bridges are in the state’s north west, with the other three in the south east.
Work is underway at eight sites, with some nearing completion, MP King said, with the ninth to start construction in 2025.
“The Australian Government is committed to improving road safety and freight efficiency across Tasmania,” MP King said.
“We know how important it is to deliver infrastructure that will ease congested roads while also creating opportunities for Tasmanians.
“That is why we will continue to partner with the Tasmanian Government to deliver the Freight Capacity Upgrade Program.”
Tasmanian Infrastructure Minister, Kerry Vincent said, “The program is supporting Tasmania’s economic growth by increasing freight efficiency, enabling increased safe operating loads, and making travel times more predictable for freight operators”.
“It supports productivity by improving the roads freight vehicles travel on day to day.
“Repairing and strengthening these sections of road and bridges will also improve road safety for all road users and reduce maintenance costs.”
Current plans are for a total of 35 bridges to be strengthened and three replaced as part of the Freight Capacity Upgrade Program.
Senator for Tasmania Anne Urquhart described the bridge strengthening works as much-needed, and “will increase road and bridge network capability to increase freight productivity for critical state industries such as agriculture and manufacturing”.
“The Australian Government will continue to invest in infrastructure projects across Tasmania to ensure efficient and safer travel for truck and heavy vehicle freight well into the future.”
