Asbestos removal has begun on Tasmania’s old Bridgewater Bridge as contractors prepare to dismantle the 80-year-old structure.
Crews started work this week stripping asbestos from the control cabin atop the bridge’s lifting span, ahead of full-scale demolition expected to begin within weeks.
The steel truss bridge, which opened in 1946, has stood idle since the new Bridgewater Bridge opened to traffic in June – marking the end of eight decades of service connecting communities across the River Derwent.
Its removal will reopen the river to vessels travelling upstream towards the Derwent Valley, which had been restricted by the old bridge’s lifting mechanism.
A Department of State Growth spokesperson told Pulse the work marked “a key milestone in transforming the River Derwent crossing”.
Tasmanian firms Hazell Bros and Brady Marine will jointly lead the demolition, which is expected to run until mid-2026.
Site preparations are already under way, with contractors setting up facilities and work areas to support the staged dismantling process.
The bridge is the fourth to occupy the site, where a convict-built causeway dating back to the 1830s still stands. That heritage-listed structure will remain untouched.
As part of planning approvals, the government developed a heritage interpretation strategy, including a dedicated history website, interpretive signage and public artworks to preserve the bridge’s story.
Most materials will be recycled, while significant structural elements – such as distinctive welds and joints – will be salvaged for posterity.
Two local artists have been commissioned to create a public artwork using salvaged bridge materials, to be installed on the foreshore once demolition is complete.
The spokesperson said no road closures were expected, though motorists may encounter minor delays during work hours due to truck movements.
“Demolition activities have been carefully planned to minimise disruption and will be staged to protect the community, river users and the local environment,” they said.
