The business case involves the construction of a new bridge, downstream of the existing Bridgewater Bridge, in the north-west of Greater Hobart.

Derwent River crossing capacity is currently included as a Priority Initiative on the Infrastructure Priority List.

The business case was accepted for Infrastructure Australia's assessment on 15 January, 2019.

On 8 July, 2019, Infrastructure Australia concluded its independent evaluation of the Tasmanian Government’s Derwent River Crossing proposal following a rigorous assessment process. It has not been added to the Infrastructure Priority List at this time as a Priority Project, as the business case did not demonstrate that the benefits of the project would outweigh its costs.

“We found that the cost of the proposed project would outweigh its benefits. The business case also identifies a number of unresolved engineering issues that could add further costs to the project, including design issues and future maintenance requirements for the existing bridge.

“Infrastructure Australia recognises the strategic importance of crossing capacity over the River Derwent, which is why it retains its current status as a Priority Initiative on the Infrastructure Priority List. We would welcome a revised proposal for a less expensive solution that better matches the project’s expected benefits,” CEO Romilly Madew AO said.

To find out more about how we evaluate projects, see our Submission Guidelines.