Elevated bikeway could solve choke point at Queen's Wharf development

An elevated bikeway in the Brisbane CBD will be considered as a potential solution to a future choke point at the Queen's Wharf development.

A new design for the Bicentennial Bikeway, as part of Queen's Wharf, was proposed to include a 70-metre long plaza, similar to King George Square.

An example of what an elevated bikeway could look like.

There would also have been a separated cycling and pedestrian path for 570 metres as well as 250 metres of a shared cycling and pedestrian path.

However, cyclists and Brisbane City Council had raised "grave" concerns the shared area could be dangerous and lead to conflict between bike users and pedestrians.

The government has now announced a feasibility study to work out the best way to change the design of the bikeway, which will pass through the casino development.

The investigation will consider whether an elevated section of the bikeway could be included in the upgrade.

An indicative path of where an elevated bikeway could be built.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the tender for the project would assess infrastructure options to allow bike riders to avoid the shared zone.

"Cyclists were understandably quizzical about how the integration would happen here," he said.

"When you have a lot of people here as pedestrians in a shared zone, when you've got bike riders coming through, sometimes at speed, as you can see, people come through here ordinarily with a fair bit of speed on.

"So we've got to make sure that safety is the number one priority."

However, when asked if the shared plaza would definitely go, Mr Bailey said he would not rule anything in or out.

"What I want to see is the best redesign options put on the table," he said.

The previous design for the Bicentennial Bikeway would have included a mixed-use area.Credit: Queen's Wharf Brisbane

The 4.5 kilometre-long bikeway, which runs from Toowong to the Goodwill Bridge, carries about 5000 cyclists and 1600 pedestrians each day.

Bicycle Queensland CEO Anne Savage said an elevated cycleway would promote safe bike riding and reduce traffic on the roads.

"If the cycleway proceeds it will provide a major boost for bike riding in the CBD, connecting the north and south through the heart of Brisbane and enhancing Brisbane's liveability," she said.

The study will begin in July and an initial feasibility report is expected in late October 2018.

Mr Bailey did not have a date for the potential works.

Brisbane City Council, Queen's Wharf and cycling groups will be consulted over the redesign.

The Queen's Wharf development is expected to be completed in 2022.