The Tasman Bridge disaster - before and after

The report briefly describes the demographic structure of urban Hobart. The history of river crossing facilities and the extent to which the population growth of the eastern shore of the derwent river has been dependent upon the existence of a permanent river crossing. The disruption caused by the fracture of the sole effective vehicular crossing, the tasman bridge, in January 1975 is explained by comparing the number of vehicles and persons crossing prior to the disaster with those occurring after the bridge collapse. The actions taken to restore communications are described and the social disruption caused by the disaster is indicated by the severe reduction in off peak person trips. The lesser reduction in a high peak period demand for travel illustrates the reliance placed by eastern shore residents for employment in the commercial and industrial areas of the western shore.