Crews are working to rectify a “problem” identified during the ongoing construction of the new Bridgewater Bridge, but the Tasmanian government is adamant it won’t impact the project’s cost or completion date.
The $786 million bridge on the outskirts of Hobart is Tasmania’s largest ever transport infrastructure project.
Construction of the 1.2-kilometre deck, which will replace an existing bridge that dates back to 1946, started in late 2022.
It’s being built using 1,082 precast concrete segments, which are progressively attached to the structure.
The issue could be remedied as early as “the weekend”, a union spokesperson says. (ABC News: Jonny McNee)
The new issue relates to temporary works in one of the piers that the concrete segments are attached to.
“We have identified a problem with a temporary expansion joint installed on the new bridge,” a Department of State Growth spokesperson said.
“The temporary works for the first joint at pier 15 haven’t performed as intended and some adjustments are needed.”
The adjustments were being done as quickly as possible to allow “segment lifters” to move onto the next span of the bridge, the spokesperson said.
An uneven gap that can be seen in a segment near the affected pier will be resolved once the adjustments are made, they said.
“The uneven segment will be realigned once the temporary expansion joint at pier 15 has been rectified.”
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The project is still scheduled to finish in mid-2025, the spokesperson said.
“Crews will continue to work in other areas while the issue is rectified, to ensure the project continues to progress.
“As the adjustments are being made to the temporary works only, there is no impact to the permanent structure, and it is not expected to delay overall completion of the project.
“There will be no additional cost to the state.”
The project is being jointly funded by the Australian and Tasmanian governments as part of the Hobart City Deal.
CFMEU organiser Richie Hassett visited the site on Tuesday and said he was confident the issue can be resolved quickly.
“We’re comfortable with where things are at and the plan that’s been put in place by management,” Mr Hassett said.
“If it’s executed properly and safely, hopefully it’s all sorted over the weekend.”
Aerial view of Bridgewater Bridge construction as seen from the southern end, as of July 2024. (Tasmanian government)
Greens member for Lyons Tabatha Badger said constituents had been contacting her after seeing the uneven segment.
“I’ve had a lot of people reach out to me in the past few days worried about what’s happening with the Bridgewater Bridge after seeing something that didn’t look quite right,” she said.
“It’s no surprise people are concerned about this. After all, it’s the biggest infrastructure project ever undertaken in Tassie, and there are thousands of people who cross the river at Bridgewater every single day.”
She said while it was normal to expect major projects to encounter challenges, she encouraged transparency to retain the confidence of the community.
Construction company McConnell Dowell has the contract to build the bridge.
