Tasman Bridge Pathways Upgrade
We are making the Tasman Bridge pathways safer for people who walk, wheel, and ride.
About the project
We have completed extensive technical assessments and have engaged with key stakeholders to develop a preferred design for the pathway upgrades.
The selected design is the best solution given the physical constraints of the bridge, the requirements of the project and it the available budget. It will improve safety and deliver meaningful improvements for active transport users.
We will be:
- installing 3-metre-high waterside barriers on both pathways for improved safety
- raising the height of the roadside barriers on both pathways to 1.2 metres to better separate pathway users from traffic
- increasing width at handlebar and waist height and improving sight lines through crescent-shaped waterside barriers
- adding reinforced mesh and handrails for additional protection and comfort
- installing three new passing bays on each pathway to make passing easier and safer
- removing the bridge maintenance towers.
Once construction is complete and both pathways are operational, we will seek feedback on whether the pathways should be made one-way to improve flow and safety.
Public display of safety barrier and pathway designs
We are sharing the designs to keep the community informed about what’s coming. We welcome questions about how the upgrades will be delivered and what they mean for pathway users. Due to the safety requirements of the project and the constraints of the bridge, it is not possible to make any significant changes to the design before construction.
View the designs
See the Tasman Bridge Passing Bay design here
See the Tasman Bridge Safety Barrier design here
We are also holding community drop-in sessions:
- Wednesday, 5 November 2025 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Mathers House, located at 108-110 Bathurst Street, Hobart
- Saturday, 8 November 2025 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Cambridge Hall, located at 989 Cambridge Road, Cambridge.
The designs will be available for viewing from Tuesday, 28 October 2025 to Monday, 17 November 2025 at the offices of:
- Hobart City Council, 16 Elizabeth Street, Hobart, Monday to Friday from 8:15 am to 5:15 pm
- Clarence City Council, 38 Bligh Street, Rosny Park Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
If you have questions about the design or want to contact the project team, please email tasmanbridgepathways@stategrowth.tas.gov.au or phone 03 6210 0662.
Members of the public can view the designs and submit questions from Tuesday, 28 October 2025 until Monday, 17 November 2025.
Background
The Tasman Bridge is an iconic structure, and we actively manage it every day to keep it safe for users, including through regular maintenance inspections.
We are upgrading the Tasman Bridge pathways to make them safer for all users. In addition to improvements to the pathways, we will be improving connections to the bridge pathways first.
We are continuing work on the strengthening of the bridge’s deck to maintain the lifespan of the bridge and to allow for the current high volume of traffic to continue for many years to come.
We will also be upgrading the bridge’s lane use management system to help us better control traffic during peak periods and incidents.
We will also look at what needs to be done to manage the bridge for the rest of its life and what the future of the crossing should be.
Timing
This project will be built in stages. The eastern shore pathway connections to the bridge will be improved first, to lessen the impact on pathway users when we later close one pathway at a time to install the higher safety barriers.
Construction on the eastern shore pathways connections will start in October 2025 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
The construction tender for the barrier and pathway upgrades will be advertised in late 2025, and work is expected to start in mid-2026.
We will aim to keep one pathway open to the public and will keep the traffic lanes of the bridge open to traffic during the day during construction.
1. FAQs: Eastern Shore Pathway Connections
What improvements will be made on the eastern shore?
We are building the Tasman Bridge Pathways Upgrade project in stages. The first stage is constructing a shared path underneath the Tasman Bridge on the eastern shore. This will improve connections to the bridge pathways from Conara Road and Topham Street. These upgrades will help us to lessen the impact on people who use the Tasman Bridge pathways when we later close one pathway at a time to install the higher safety barriers.
In May 2025, we released a concept design to improve eastern shore pathway connections and sought feedback from the community and key stakeholders including the City of Clarence. We have now finalised the design, based on feedback received, including widening sections of the pathway to 2.5 metres.
Image: Updated eastern shore pathway connections.
We will be installing a 2.5-metre-wide shared path underneath the Tasman Bridge that connects the southern bridge pathway to Conara Road and Topham Street.
We will be doing landscaping and placing bollards to ensure safety for pathway users. There will be a handrail on the uphill sections of the shared path.
These upgrades will make it easier for people to walk, wheel or ride to access the Tasman Bridge pathways.
When will work start and finish?
Construction will start in October 2025 and is expected to be complete by the end of 2025.
What improvements will be made on the western shore?
We will work with the City of Hobart and other key stakeholders to see what improvements can be made on the western shore, including improvements to directional signage.
Funding
$130 million in funding has been committed by the Australian and Tasmanian governments for the Tasman Bridge Upgrade project.
If you or someone you know is experiencing distress, seek help and support from:
- A Tasmanian Lifeline (1800 98 44 34 – 8:00 am to 8:00 pm)
- Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467)
- Lifeline (13 11 14)
In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000).
Accessibility
If you would like to find out more information and you have accessibility requirements, please contact the project team on the email below.
You can find out more about Transport Services' commitment to accessibility on our website here: https://www.transport.tas.gov.au/accessibility
Contact
If you have any questions, please contact the project team at tasmanbridgepathways@stategrowth.tas.gov.au.