Bowen Bridge

Bowen Bridge
The Bowen Bridge from the western shore
Coordinates	42°49′07″S 147°18′21″E / 42.81861°S 147.30583°E / -42.81861; 147.30583
Carries	Goodwood Road
Crosses	River Derwent
Locale	Hobart, Tasmania
Named for	John Bowen
Maintained by	Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources
Characteristics
Design	Segmental cantilever[1]
Total length	976 metres (3,202 ft)[1]
Width	21.4 metres (70 ft)[1]
Longest span	109 metres (358 ft)[1]
No. of spans	10[1] 52 metres (171 ft) 8 x 109 metres (358 ft) 52 metres (171 ft)
Clearance below	17.3 metres (57 ft)
History
Constructed by	Leighton-Candac[2]
Opened	23 February 1984
Location

The Bowen Bridge is a segmental cantilever road bridge crossing the River Derwent in Tasmania, Australia. The bridge serves as a vital transportation link in the state capital of Hobart, facilitating the movement of vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists between the local government areas of Clarence on the eastern shore and Glenorchy on the western shore. The Bowen Bridge links the East Derwent Highway with the Brooker Highway (as Goodwood Road) at Glenorchy, approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the Hobart city centre.

The Bowen Bridge is composed of eight river spans, each measuring 109 metres (358 ft). The end spans are 48 metres (157 ft) and 56 metres (184 ft) long. It maintains a consistent deck width of 21.4 metres (70 ft), accommodating a 7.42-metre (24.3 ft) divided highway with two lanes each, along with two separated shared-use walkways.^[1]

The Bowen Bridge takes its name from British colonist John Bowen, who founded the first European settlement in Tasmania (then Van Diemen's Land) at Risdon Cove on the eastern shore. Bowen subsequently moved the colony to the western side of the River Derwent, where the Hobart city centre is located today.^[3] Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser revealed the bridge's name at a public ceremony at Dowsings Point on 10 October 1980.^[4]