A pedestrian and cycle bridge linking the Seaport to North Bank is likely to be developed after a development application was lodged with the City of Launceston.
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The bridge is part of the council’s $9 million North Bank revitalisation project that is set to get underway later this year.
"The $9m redevelopment of North Bank is an incredibly exciting project for our city, and we need to consider how we make that area as accessible as possible to the entire community," Mayor Albert van Zetten said.
The council has been undertaking geotechnical investigations in the North Esk to determine appropriate specifications for a new bridge, designed to provide easy access to the North Bank site from the Seaport boardwalk.
The development application will come before the council and will be considered accordingly but if approved, construction on the bridge is likely to begin in July to August this year.
The construction process to complete the bridge is likely to take six months and the contract will go out for local tender.
“Many people use this area for cycling and walking and they often find it difficult to get across the Charles Street bridge,” Ald van Zetten said.
He said the truss-style bridge would span 120-metres and would be four metres wide. It will be on average the same height as the existing Charles Street bridge, that is used for traffic and pedestrians.
The bridge will link the Seaport with North Bank, which the council plans to develop into public recreation space with play equipment and barbecue areas in the near future.
"The redeveloped North Bank will feature recreational trails, fantastic play areas for kids, and oneof the most exciting play grounds ever seen in Tasmania.
“You will see an area over the river be transformed for people to play, have a barbecue, relax and enjoy themselves,” he said.
More work on the North Bank project is expected to begin at the end of the year.
"Being able to make that last jump across the North Esk to North Bank would be a great opportunity for the city, and I'm hopeful the council will be able to formally consider this development application in the near future once the advertising period has concluded."
The development application is available for public comment and a site office has been established at the Seaport.