Tamar bridge options connecting Riverside and Newnham to be released to public in early 2021

The second stage of the project - in which the likely form of the bridge, interchange requirements and general construction feasibility works - is now under way with the project working group in the Department of State Growth.

The first stage involved identifying traffic impacts for each potential bridge location, along with safety and capacity matters for the West Tamar Highway where road infrastructure improvements are progressing.

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Infrastructure and Transport Minister Michael Ferguson said the public would soon get a chance to comment on the planning work.

"We'll be sharing with the Launceston City Council and the wider community, in the very near future, the potential alignment options for that first stage," he said.

"The stage one study does provide some recommendations about what alignments are going to actually support relieving congestion in the Tamar Valley area, so we look forward to sharing that with the public."

Funding for the feasibility, planning, design and costing of the Tamar bridge was included in the $75 million Launceston and Tamar Valley Traffic Vision funding, detailed in last week's state budget.

It shows $7.3 million in the current financial year, $2.6 million in 2021-22, a further $4.5 million in 2022-23 and a significant increase in funding in 2023-24 with $18.9 million.

The state government last year estimated the bridge could be complete by 2028.

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