Tasman Bridge Pathways Upgrade
We are making the Tasman Bridge pathways safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
About the project
We have been completing investigations and further assessments to better understand what improvements can be made to the Tasman Bridge.
We will be making the Tasman Bridge safer for pathway users by delivering a range of improvements.
This project will focus on:
- raising the height of the safety barriers on both sides of the bridge pathways
- improving pathway connections on the eastern and western shores
- installing passing bays
- exploring one-way pathway options with key stakeholders.
We will seek feedback from the community on these improvements soon, ahead of work to install pathway connections and higher barriers starting this year (2025).
Investigations on the Tasman Bridge pathways, March - May 2025
We will be closing one pathway at a time on the Tasman Bridge while we complete investigations of the pathway structures. This will help us develop the design for upgrading the pathways.
We will close each pathway for up to three weeks.
The pathway will need to be closed from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday while we are working from March until mid-May. The other pathway will stay open and be a detour route.
The southern pathway is currently closed.
We will do our best to make sure that there will always be one pathway open with signage directing pedestrians and cyclists.
Detour maps
These maps below show the detours the community will need to take when we carry out our investigation work.
Image: Eastern pathway map.
Image: Western pathway map.
Background
Unfortunately, detailed investigations show that the planned, wider pathways cannot be installed along the full length of the bridge without significantly modifying its structure. This work is not funded and would cost far more than the project’s budget. We know this news will be disappointing for people who wish to use the pathways. We wanted to build wider pathways to support more walking, wheeling and riding. The pathways will not be significantly widened as part of this project, except in short areas to assist passing.
The Tasman Bridge is an iconic structure, and we actively manage it every day to keep it safe for users, including through regular maintenance inspections.
We are continuing work on the strengthening of the bridge’s deck to maintain the lifespan of the bridge and to allow for the current high volume of traffic to continue for many years to come. The bridge’s lane use management system will also be upgraded, delivered as a separate project, to help us better control traffic during peak periods and incidents. Additional planning work will make recommendations on what needs to be done to manage the bridge for the rest of its life and what the future of the crossing should be.
Video update - September 2024
Community consultation
The first phase of community consultation on the Tasman Bridge Pathways Upgrade project was completed on Tuesday, 19 July 2022.
We published the findings in the Tasman Bridge Pathways Upgrade Consultation and Feedback Summary Report (PDF file).
Timing
We will seek feedback from the community on these active transport improvements soon, ahead of work to install pathway connections and higher barriers starting this year (2025). We will build the project in stages. The pathway connections to the bridge will be improved first, to lessen the impact on pathway users when we later close one pathway at a time to install the higher safety barriers.
Funding
$130 million in funding has been committed by the Australian and Tasmanian governments for the Tasman Bridge Upgrade project.
1. Frequently Asked Questions
What are the project benefits?
This upgrade will make the Tasman Bridge safer for pathway users.
This project will focus on:
- installing higher safety barriers on both sides of the pathways
- improving pathway connections on the eastern and western shores
- installing passing bays on the bridge pathways
- exploring one-way pathway options with key stakeholders.
We will also be completing bridge strengthening of the bridge’s deck to maintain the lifespan of the bridge and to allow the current high volume of traffic to continue for many years to come. The bridge’s lane use management system will also be upgraded, delivered as a separate project, to help us better control traffic during peak periods and incidents.
Why can’t wider pathways be installed on the Tasman Bridge?
The original proposal was to build wider pathways on both sides of the bridge to support more walking, wheeling and riding. To build wider pathways we would need to make changes to the structure of the bridge, including major reinforcing and strengthening work of the bridge’s foundations. This is significant work that is not funded under the current project budget.
Our planned upgrades will still improve access and safety on the pathways.
If you are strengthening the bridge, why can’t you add the pathways?
The strengthening we will be doing is on the bridge deck, to maintain its lifespan.
This is separate to the significant structure modifications, including major foundation reinforcing and strengthening that would be required to build wider pathways, which is not funded under the current project budget.
Is the bridge safe to use?
Yes, the Tasman Bridge is safe to use. The Tasman Bridge was built to a design life of 100 years. We complete regular and extensive inspections and maintenance on the bridge as part of our ongoing management of this critical asset. The Tasman Bridge is inspected at least twice a week, and any maintenance issues are logged and scheduled for repair. Regular inspections and reports are part of our extensive program of planning, monitoring and maintenance to ensure this critical link in Hobart’s transport network remains in good shape for decades to come.
What are you doing about the future of the crossing?
We are continuing to look at what needs to be done to manage the bridge for the rest of its life. We are also looking at the future of crossing, given that adding another lane to the bridge is not a viable option to cater for any future traffic increase.
We are doing some planning work to make recommendations on what needs to be done to manage the bridge for the rest of its life and identify appropriate ways to meet Hobart’s long term transport needs.
What is a lane use management system?
A lane use management system automates the switchover of the central lane of the bridge. This will improve flexibility in managing traffic during incidents and congestion. It will also improve safety for road users and bridge workers, by removing the need for field crew to be physically on the road to move bollards to switch the central lane.
When will work on the project start?
It is proposed to construct the project in stages. To allow the installation of higher safety barriers, the pathways connections on the eastern and western shores will be improved first. This work will start in 2025 and will allow access to be maintained on one bridge pathway while higher safety barriers are installed on the other pathway.
If you or someone you know is experiencing distress, seek help and support from:
- A Tasmanian Lifeline (1800 98 44 34 – 8am to 8pm)
- Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467)
- Lifeline (13 11 14)
In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000).
Accessibility
If you would like to find out more information and you have accessibility requirements, please contact the project team on the email below.
You can find out more about Transport Services' commitment to accessibility on our website here: https://www.transport.tas.gov.au/accessibility
Contact
If you have any questions, please contact the project team at tasmanbridgepathways@stategrowth.tas.gov.au.