Tasman Bridge replaced its predecessor when it opened for traffic in 1965. The concrete girder structure spans 4,580 feet and connects the west and east banks of the Derwent River. It has five lanes to accommodate over 100,000 cars a day plus two pedestrian walkways. At 198 feet, it is tall enough for the passage of most ships. However, auto traffic is stopped for large vessels in recognition of a disaster in 1975 when an ore carrier struck the bridge’s pylons, sending four cars plunging into the water.
