The final span of Hobart’s $786 million Bridgewater Bridge has been craned into place.
Construction on the new bridge started in October 2022. It is expected to be open to traffic later this year.
Work briefly paused after midday as dozens of construction workers gathered to witness the historic moment.
Local residents and spectators lined the Bridgewater causeway, while passing motorists slowed and honked their horns in celebration.
The new structure will replace the aging crossing between Bridgewater and Granton over the River Derwent, including the original causeway that dates back to 1848.
The existing Bridgewater Bridge, which opened in 1946, has served the community for nearly 80 years but is reaching the end of its operational life.
According to State Growth, the current bridge has become increasingly unsafe and unreliable, with mounting maintenance costs making the replacement necessary.
The new bridge will have four lanes, with two lanes in each direction and a shared path for cyclists and pedestrians.
