A study into the feasibility of building a second bridge across the Cam River near Burnie has found that the project is not viable on its own.
The study was commissioned after the original Cam River Bridge was closed for almost two weeks in October 2022 due to flood damage.
Infrastructure Minister Kerry Vincent said the replacement bridge, completed a year ago, has since proven to be “of huge benefit” to the region.
“The new bridge is stronger, wider, higher and allows more water to pass through underneath,” he said.
“The new bridge is designed to withstand a once in 2,000-year storm event which gives the community far more security compared to the previous bridge.”
The study found that building a second bridge further up the river would only be feasible as part of a full bypass linking Cooee and Doctors Rocks.
He has instructed the Department of State Growth to develop plans, costings and assess the feasibility of this bypass over the next 18 months, a project that would require 80% funding from the federal government.
“We now know simply duplicating the Cam River Bridge won’t deliver the solutions we need but we are committed to finding one that works,” Vincent said.
“This bypass was considered in the 2018 Cooee to Wynyard Planning Study. At the time, the study suggested up to 43% of the Bass Highway traffic may divert to this alternate route.”
“We will continue getting on with the job of delivering region-building infrastructure, creating jobs and ensuring the north-west community can rely on existing and future links on its road network.”
