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Customer: Tasmanian Department of State Growth Contract: Design and Construct Location: Hobart, Tasmania   |
Fast Facts
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We delivered the New Bridgewater Bridge project in Hobart - Tasmania's largest ever transport infrastructure project and one of the longest road bridges over water in Australia. The Tasmanian Department of State Growth awarded us the contract based on our innovative design and focus on local industry participation.
The new 1.28 kilometre long bridge replaces the existing lift-span bridge built in the 1940s, providing a new modern crossing of the River Derwent. The new bridge will cut travel times for the 22,000 people that use the route each day. It will also improve freight movement around the state capital.
Our winning design features a new, four lane bridge constructed downstream of the existing one. Works also include enhanced interchanges at Granton and Bridgewater, and a dedicated shared pathway for cyclists and pedestrians.
The McConnell Dowell team included design partners Jacobs; Tony Gee and Partners; Tonkin and Taylor; Wood Marsh; and Pitt & Sherry. Our main construction partner was bridge specialist VSL.
With a strong focus on local industry participation and development, the team also engaged a range of local constructors, including Batchelor, BridgePro and Hazell Bros, maximising economic value for Tasmania. In all over 380 local organisations played a role in the project's delivery.
The construction of 1,082 match-cast segments for the bridge presented a series of logistical, technical, and workforce-related challenges. To overcome these challenges, the project team established a dedicated pre-cast facility just two kilometres from the bridge site. The location was strategically selected based on proximity, road access, and geotechnical suitability.
The project was also a showcase for excellence in broad community engagement and participation, including:
- 5% Indigenous participation rate
- 18% of engaged workers from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds
- Seven finalists and four winners in the 2024 NAWIC Awards
- Partnerships with Colony 47 and Possibility to support housing, training, and employement.
The bridge was open to traffic on June 1, 2025, after a community open day.
In August 2025 the project won the Australian Construction Achievement Award - our industry's highest accolade.
Reflecting on the award, Australian Constructors Association CEO Jon Davies said the project redefines modern bridge building: “This is a world-class example of innovation and collaboration under pressure – delivered on time and on budget through a pandemic, with meaningful outcomes for workers, communities and the environment.”
Engineers Australia CEO Romilly Madew AO said the project reflects the profession at its best: “Bridgewater Bridge is proof of what Australian engineering can achieve - local expertise, world-class design and real impact for the community."
