A peak-hour motorcycle crash on the Tasman Bridge that brought Hobart to a standstill has reignited calls for a replacement crossing, with a local mayor saying the 60-year-old structure is no longer fit for purpose.
The crash happened around 7:30am on Wednesday as thousands of commuters travelled into the city, triggering gridlock across Hobart’s broader road network.
Clarence mayor Brendan Blomeley wished the motorcyclist a speedy recovery, but said the incident highlighted the need for urgent action.
“The Southern Outlet, the Tasman Highway, the East Derwent Highway, the South Arm Highway, bumper-to-bumper, moving at a snail’s pace,” he told Pulse.
“It’s not acceptable for a capital city in this day and age.”
Blomeley was caught in the traffic himself while on his way to meet the three other greater Hobart mayors.
“What this does underscore though is that a replacement Tasman Bridge is one of, if not the most pressing infrastructure investment needed for southern Tasmania,” he said.
“Whether that is a bridge beside it, whether it’s a tunnel, clearly there is significant costs associated with an investment in infrastructure that will be required.”
He pointed to the Bridgewater Bridge as a warning, noting major projects can take 20 to 30 years to deliver.
“Does anyone seriously believe this bridge has another 20 to 30 years? It is at its structural limit.”
Blomeley said $130 million in safety and pedestrian upgrades promised in 2020 had taken more than five years to deliver and a full replacement was not even included in 10-year plans at either state or federal level.
“We need to start the planning now. We can’t keep kicking the can down the road,” he said.
“We need to commit all three levels of government to planning for a new bridge to ensure that greater Hobart remains connected and remains resilient.”
Infrastructure and Transport Minister Kerry Vincent told Pulse there was “no immediate plan” to duplicate the bridge.
He told Pulse the bridge had “at least another 40 years of functional life ahead of it” and that “unfortunately, accidents happen on our roads”.
“I want to stress this is a rare occurrence on the Tasman, with tow trucks on standby to ensure it is dealt with swiftly,” he said.
He said the government was focused on free ferries and buses, with plans to expand Hobart’s ferry network to benefit eastern shore commuters.
Hobart councillor Ryan Posselt is calling on the state government to extend the Bellerive ferry to an all-day, weekend and evening service.
He has also floated the idea of running temporary ferry services from locations such as Glenorchy or Sandy Bay using available vessels, which could include repurposing tourist boats over winter.
“It could encourage uptake of public transport, relieve pressure on family budgets, help conserve fuel for those who need it most, decrease congestion and reduce carbon emissions,” Posselt said.
