paul mallett advocates for a City Bridge designed to solve transport problems while strengthening the social fabric of the city. For too long, the Tamar’s existing bridges have carried more than they were built for. Congestion has grown, emergency vehicles have been delayed, and growth on both sides of the river has been constrained by infrastructure that was never meant to carry this load.

A new City Bridge would change that. Designed with wide, separated paths for walking and cycling, lookouts, and places to pause, it would make crossing the river safer and calmer for everyone. Its arc of steel and light would reconnect the city’s edges, creating a crossing that feels welcoming and purposeful. A lane reserved for future light rail would keep options open as the city grows, avoiding costly retrofits and allowing mobility to evolve with need.

By day, the bridge would move workers, students, families, cyclists, buses, and freight efficiently. By dusk, solar sculptures would gather sunlight and release it as gentle colour and story along the span, creating a daily civic ritual for residents and visitors alike.

The aim is simple: a second Tamar crossing that solves congestion, improves safety, supports growth, and gives Launceston a shared landmark to believe in.

Let’s build the bridge that connects lives as well as lanes, including:

A landmark arc of steel and light

Designed as an elegant, recognisable civic landmark connecting the city’s current centre to the edges it has long overlooked. Its profile and lighting would establish a new visual identity for the Tamar and give the city something to gather around.

Solar powered stories-in-light

Solar collectors mounted as sculptural forms would gather energy by day and release colour and light at night. The bridge would become a predictable gathering point at dusk, strengthening social life and creating a new civic ritual that costs nothing to attend.

A visitor-economy anchor

The bridge’s distinct design, night-time light displays, and water-level viewpoints would attract visitors and ongoing media attention for the Tamar region without paid advertising.

Walk-on-water glass and etched artworks

A separated pedestrian gallery with glass viewing panels and artworks etched into the walkway. A public gallery that shares stories, culture, and identity with everyone who crosses.

A future-proofed light-rail lane

A reserved alignment for future light rail, ensuring adaptability as the city grows and keeping long-term transport options open without expensive retrofits.

Multi-modal design

Safe active transport, efficient freight movement, and clean-energy vehicles all accommodated. Movement separated to maximise safety and reliability for every user.

A protected active-transport corridor

A wide, dedicated path with safe separation from traffic, lookouts, and rest points. Designed to make walking and cycling across the river feel safe, calm, and worth doing.

Human-centred safety design

Safety barriers incorporated quietly and respectfully into the design, reducing risk without compromising the experience of the bridge for the people who use it every day.

A bridge that moves people. A bridge that tells stories. A bridge that gives Launceston a landmark it is proud of.

That is the City Bridge worth building.