The 80-year-old Bridgewater Bridge is being dismantled, with crews preparing to remove its distinctive lift span as early as this weekend.
A barge arrived on site on Friday to begin the delicate operation of floating the 41-metre span out of the River Derwent.
Once removed, boats will be able to travel freely between Hobart and New Norfolk for the first time in decades.
Infrastructure Minister Kerry Vincent said the milestone would transform access to the upper Derwent for Tasmanians.
“This opens up … a very exciting time for people with their craft on the water to be able to cruise on up through here,” he said.
The bridge’s ageing lift span became increasingly unreliable over the years, often failing to operate in high winds and leaving vessels stranded on either side.
Brian Edmonds, commodore of the Motor Yacht Club of Tasmania, said it had been nearly 20 years since recreational boaters were able to make the journey to New Norfolk.
“Seeing the colours and the vibrance of New Norfolk, perhaps staying overnight and enjoying the township will be a real benefit to all recreational boating users,” he said.
The club operates the historic heritage vessel Egeria and hopes to run regular trips upriver once the channel reopens.
Liz Virtue from the Derwent Valley and Central Highlands Tourism Association said the river was central to New Norfolk’s identity.
“For generations we haven’t had reliable access on the river for boats to come up our way,” she said. “It’s a game changer for us.”
The New Norfolk Regatta, which ran almost annually from 1856 until 1998, is set to return on the weekend of February 12-14, 2027.
Hazell Brothers is leading the demolition in a joint venture with Brodie Marine and Civil.
Chief Operating Officer Ed McPhillips said the barge would be floated beneath the lift span, with workers then using the tide to jack it onto the platform.
“It’s a demolition project, but we call it a bespoke engineering dismantling project,” he said.
“We definitely don’t use explosives. Everything’s quite calculated. We’re in a very marine sensitive environment.”
The steel will be recycled, while the concrete will be crushed and reused as road base.
Some elements of the bridge will be retained for heritage purposes, with parts incorporated into an artwork on the Bridgewater side.
The convict-built causeway will remain in place and be revegetated.
The $13 million demolition project is on time and within budget, with completion expected by mid-2026.
It is funded 80% by the federal government and 20% by the state government.
The $786 million new Bridgewater Bridge opened to traffic in June 2025.
Marine traffic will face temporary restrictions during the works, with boaties advised to check notices from Marine and Safety Tasmania.
