The Tasman Bridge collapse and its effects on metropolitan Hobart : disruption of journey-to-work patterns.

Bibliography: p. 43

The Tasman Bridge, which formed the only direct road link across the River Derwent in the Hobart area, collapsed in January 1975 after being hit by an ore carrier. The collapse effectively isolated almost 30 per cent of Hobart's population resident in the eastern shore municipality of Clarence from the major nodes of urban activity, all of which are located on the western shore. For most Clarence residents, cross-river trips for employment, shopping, social contact and many other activities had been the norm. Overnight, such trips became vastly more onerous and time-consuming and, for almost a year, a state of extreme comparative isolation prevailed for most eastern shore residents. In December 1975 a temporary river crossing, the Bailey Bridge, was opened upstream from the Tasman Bridge where reconstruction work was continuing. To some extent, the Bailey Bridge eased movement problems but it was not until October 1977, 34 months after the disaster, that the Tasman bridge was reopened. This sequence of events proveded an opportunity to examine the reactions and adjustments of individuals and households to the sudden disruption of established behaviour patterns