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'{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2013}} {{Use Australian English|date=April 2018}} {{Infobox Bridge |bridge_name=Tasman Bridge |image=Tasman Bridge Dusk.jpg |caption= |official_name= |carries= [[Tasman Highway]] |crosses=[[Derwent River (Tasmania)|Derwent River]], [[South Line, Tasmania|Southern rail line]] |locale=[[Hobart]], [[Tasmania]] |maint=[[Department of State Growth]] |id= |design=[[Prestressed concrete]] [[Girder bridge|Girder]] |mainspan= {{convert|95|m}} |length= {{convert|1,395|m}} |width= {{convert|17.5|m}} |height= {{convert|60.5|m}} |clearance= |below= {{convert|46|m}} |traffic= 67,000<ref name="loaded">{{cite web | year = 2007 | url = http://stca.tas.gov.au/downloads/2006/04-linear-infrastructure.pdf | title = Linear Infrastructure | publisher = [[Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources]] | accessdate = 5 May 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | year = 2007 | url = http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/tas/content/2006/s1914760.htm | title = Traffic Jams | publisher = Stateline Tasmania | accessdate = 22 February 2008}}</ref> |begin=May 1960<ref name="year book">{{cite web | year = 2002 | url = http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/7a88395760718555ca256c32002417ba?OpenDocument | title = Tasmanian Year Book, 2000 | publisher = [[Australian Bureau of Statistics]] | accessdate = 22 February 2008}}</ref> |complete=23 December 1964 |closed= |toll= |map_cue= |map_image= |map_text= |map_width= |coordinates= {{coord|42|51|54|S|147|20|33|E|region:AU-TAS_type:landmark}} }} [[Image:Australian Alphanumeric State Route A3.svg|20px|(A3)]] The '''Tasman Bridge''' is a [[5-lane arterial|five-lane]] bridge crossing the [[Derwent River, Tasmania|Derwent River]], near [[Hobart CBD|the CBD]] of [[Hobart]], [[Tasmania]]. The bridge has a total length (including approaches) of {{convert|1,396|m}}. As part of the [[Tasman Highway]], it provides the main traffic route from the CBD (on the western shore) to the eastern shore. The bridge is known to be one of the most frequented suicide hotspots in Tasmania- in 2015 alone, 7 deaths occurred at the peak of the bridge span. The 50 metre drop to the water/concrete bridge pylon surface is often lethal although some have survived. Only a 1.5 metre guard stops pedestrians from plunging over the side. It is estimated if the bridge remains in its current configuration for the next 20 years, 100 more suicide deaths will have occurred.{{Citation needed|date=December 2017}} It has a [[pedestrian]] foot way on each side, but no dedicated lane for bicycles. However, steps to the pedestrian foot way have recently been replaced with on-ramps.<ref name="cyclingtas">{{cite web | year = 2010 | url = http://www.cyclingsouth.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=66&Itemid= | title = Cycling South Tasmania - Tasman Hwy and Bridge | accessdate = 18 July 2013}}</ref> ==History== In the 5090s with the development of the Eastern shore, it was decided to build a larger bridge; the old [[Hobart Bridge]] faced increasing difficulty in managing the larger volumes of [[traffic]] that came with development, and constantly raising the [[lift span]] for shipping was disruptive. The total cost of the new bridge in conjunction with approach ramps and [[Lindisfarne Interchange]] was in the area of [[Pound (currency)|£]]7 million.<ref name="stats">{{cite web | year = 2004 | url = http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/history/tbstats.htm | title = Tasman Bridge Statistics | publisher = [[Tasmanian Government]] | accessdate = 4 March 2007}}</ref> Construction commenced in May 1960 and the bridge was first opened to traffic (2 lanes only) on 18 August 1964. The bridge was completed with all four lanes operational on 23 December 1964. It was officially opened on 18 March 1965 by [[Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester]]. During peak construction a labour force of over 9000! giant penis men was employed on site.<ref name="stats" /> ==Disaster== {{main|Tasman Bridge disaster}} On Sunday 5 January 1975, at 9:27&nbsp;p.m. Australian Eastern Summer Time, the Tasman Bridge was struck by the [[bulk ore carrier]] ''[[Lake Illawarra (ship)|Lake Illawarra]]'',<ref name="year book" /> bound for the [[Electrolytic Zinc]] Company with a cargo of 10,000 [[ton]]s of [[zinc concentrate]].<ref name="year book" /> It caused two [[Tower#Transportation support|pylons]] and three sections of concrete decking, totaling 127 metres (417&nbsp;ft), to fall from the bridge and sink the ship. Seven of the ship's crewmen were killed, and five [[motorist]]s died when four cars drove over the collapsed sections before the traffic was stopped. A major press shot showed a [[Holden Monaro|Holden Monaro HQ]] GTS, which was owned by Frank and Sylvia Manley, along with an older [[Holden EK|EK Holden]] station wagon, driven by a local man Mr. Murray Ling, perched balancing on the ledge.<ref>{{cite web | year = 2000 | url = http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/history/brd1.htm | title = Bridge gone | publisher = [[Tasmanian Government]] | accessdate = 22 February 2008}}</ref> The depth of the river at this point (35 metres, 115&nbsp;ft) is such that the wreck of ''Lake Illawarra'' still lies on the bottom, with concrete slab on top of it, without presenting a navigation hazard to smaller vessels. The breakage of an important arterial link isolated the residents in Hobart's eastern suburbs – the relatively short drive across the Tasman Bridge to the city suddenly became a 50 kilometre (31&nbsp;mi) journey via [[Bridgewater Bridge (Tasmania, Australia)|the estuary's next bridge]] at [[Bridgewater, Tasmania|Bridgewater]]. The only other vehicular crossing within Hobart after the bridge collapsed was the Risdon Punt, a [[cable ferry]] which crossed the river from East Risdon and Risdon, some five kilometres upstream from the bridge. However, it was totally inadequate, carrying only eight cars on each crossing, and although ferries provided a service across the Derwent River, it was not until December 1975 that a two lane, 788m long [[Bailey bridge]] was opened to traffic, thereby restoring some connectivity. [[Image:Tasman Bridge.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Tasman Bridge from Mount Nelson]] The separation of Hobart saw an immediate surge in the small and limited ferry service then operating across the river.<ref name="year book" /> In a primary position to provide a service were the two ships of [[Bob Clifford|Robert Clifford]], a Tasmanian mariner{{Citation needed|date=February 2008}}. He had introduced the locally-built ferries ''Matthew Brady'' and ''James McCabe'' to the river crossing, from the Central Business District of Hobart to the eastern shore, shortly before the collision. These two ships were soon joined by the ''Cartela'', a wooden vessel of 1912 vintage, and other ships, including [[Sydney Harbour]] ferries, pressed into service by the [[Tasmanian Government]], to ferry thousands of commuters across the river{{Citation needed|date=February 2008}}. Following successful rebuilding of the Bridge, Clifford's organisation saw the ferry traffic fade quickly, but by then he had diversified into further building of ships.{{Citation needed|date=February 2008}}. On 20 June 2007, a [[Crane (machine)|crane]] toppled whilst carrying out works on the bridge, and precariously hung for a number of hours off the side of the barriers.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,21937064-5007221,00.html |title=Crane drama on Tasman Bridge |date=21 June 2007 |accessdate=22 February 2008 |publisher=[[The Mercury (Hobart)|The Mercury]] |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626230423/http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,21937064-5007221,00.html |archivedate=26 June 2007 }}</ref> {{Clear}} {{Wide image|Tasman_Bridge_Night_Panorama.jpg|1800 px|Panorama of the Tasman Bridge at night.}} ==Reconstruction== [[Image:Bridge into Hobart.jpg|350px|thumb|right|Entering the bridge from the eastern shore]] [[File:Tasman Bridge towards Rose Bay, Hobart, Tasmania (36103737153).jpg|thumb|350px|Entering the bridge from the west side]] Reconstruction of the Tasman Bridge commenced in October 1975. An important factor of the reconstruction is the improved safety measures. Some examples: *Large vessels passing beneath the bridge must now do so slightly to the west of the original main navigation span. *Personnel controlling ships (or [[harbor pilot]]s) must be trained and then cleared for using the special [[laser]] [[lighthouse]] that indicates by colours whether the ship must be steered left or right to regain the centre line. *All road traffic is now halted whilst large vessels transit beneath the bridge. On top of the new safety measures implemented, the bridge was further upgraded to hold a fifth lane.<ref name="year book" /><ref name="Clarence">{{cite web | year = 2004 | url = http://www.ccc.tas.gov.au/page.aspx?u=1514 | title = Tasman Bridge disaster | publisher = [[City of Clarence|Clarence City Council]] | accessdate = 22 February 2008}}</ref> This upgrade included the construction of a lane management system which would enable the new middle lane to function as a [[reversible lane]]. The system consists of a traffic light system and a sign above each lane, pictured right. The signs, in conjunction with the traffic light system, employ a [[pulley]] system to periodically pull the signs over their appropriate lanes. The middle lane points towards the city side (or western shore) during a.m. peak hours and points back towards the eastern shore during p.m. peak hours. The lane generally points towards the eastern shore during non-peak hours. The Tasman Bridge repair took two years and cost approximately $44 million.<ref name="Clarence" /> The bridge officially reopened on 8 October 1977.<ref name="year book" /><ref name="Clarence" /> ==Replacement== In 2010, Clarence Alderman Richard James stated that it was time to consider the replacement of the Tasman Bridge with a new bridge of suspension or cable stay design citing that the current bridge was facing a greatly reduced lifespan due to damage to the internal steel structure caused by the Tasman Bridge disaster. Richard James has suggested a timeframe of no more than 20 years, however Alderman James is not a qualified engineer.<ref>http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/12/17/193921_tasmania-news.html</ref> ==Gallery== <gallery> Image:Tasman-under-from-east-shore.jpg|View of the bridge from the eastern shore. Image:Tasman-bridge-from-south.jpg|Looking towards the Tasman Bridge from [[Montagu Bay]]. Image:NS14TasmanBridge.JPG|Dinghy and the bridge. Image:Tasman-bridge-fixed-span.jpg|The repaired bridge span Image:Tasman Bridge Hobart1.jpg|The view of the Bridge from [[Mount Wellington (Tasmania)|Mount Wellington]] Image:Derwent River 013.jpg|A view of the bridge from the river Image:Tasman Bridge from Western shore.JPG|Tasman Bridge from the Western shore </gallery> ==See also== *[[List of disasters in Australia by death toll]] ==References== {{reflist}} {{More footnotes|date=April 2009}} *Reference: Lewis, Tom. ''By Derwent Divided''. Darwin: Tall Stories, 1999. *Ludeke, M. (2006) ''Ten Events Shaping Tasmania's History.'' Hobart: Ludeke Publishing. ==External links== {{Commons category}} *[http://www.rosebay.tased.edu.au/webcam/tiny.html Live webcam view of Hobart including the Tasman Bridge] *[http://www.transport.tas.gov.au/traffic_cameras/traffic_camera_-_abc_round-a-bout4 Traffic camera view of the Tasman Bridge] *Archival photographs of construction of the Tasman Bridge: [http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/history/fbr3.htm page 1], [http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/history/fbr4.htm page 2]. *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070425210548/http://ink.news.com.au/mercury/mathguys/articles/1995/951208a1.htm 1995 article about Tasman Bridge safety] *[http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/history/hobartbr.htm Hobart To Tasman Bridge 1938-2000] * {{Structurae|id=s0001193|title=Tasman Bridge}} {{Hobart landmarks}} {{Road infrastructure in Hobart}} [[Category:Bridges in Hobart]] [[Category:Bridges completed in 1964]] [[Category:Bridges completed in 1977]] [[Category:Landmarks in Hobart]] [[Category:Roads with a reversible lane]]'