It is a grand plan that finally promises a bridge further down the Tamar River – something that has been discussed for decades.

With areas like Legana projected to grow substantially in the coming years, congestion on the West Tamar Highway, approaching the city, is going to become worse.

That’s why, planning for the future now is so important.

Granted, the project, if it goes ahead, would take about 10 years to complete.

That’s just the reality of a project of that scale when taking into account planning, design and construction.

If re-elected, the Liberals say they will begin feasibility and geo-tech studies straight away, as well as applying for federal government money to help fund the project.

The bridge is the jewel in the crown of a $92.5 million plan to improve traffic flow in the city and the Tamar Valley.

It includes upgrading the Batman Highway, Tamar Highway upgrades, extending capacity of the Charles Street Bridge, a potential increase to the speed limit on part of the East Tamar Highway, and a “road swap” with City of Launceston. That would give the state government control of the central parts of Bathurst and Wellington streets, and those sections of York and Brisbane Streets that connect the couplet to the state-owned Kings Bridge.

Getting our roads and traffic flow right is important if we want to continue to attract people to our growing city.

The West Tamar Highway is one of the more congested roads leading into Launceston during the morning commute. Suburbs along the river are growing and are predicted to keep growing.

In fact, an extra 10,000 people are expected to live in Legana by 2027, and a 91-lot subdivision was approved in the suburb by the West Tamar Council mid-last year.

If traffic congestion is even somewhat bearable now heading into the city, it certainly won’t be by 2027, if a significant solution, such as a new bridge across the river, isn’t recognised.

At the moment, the Liberals are talking about a road that exits the West Tamar Highway before Riverside, to take motorists to the proposed new bridge.

That will ease the traffic flow through Riverside as well – another plus for West Tamar residents.