Neville Bonner Bridge crosses Brisbane River, to open late 2023

The final section of Brisbane’s newest bridge has been installed, with thousands of people expected to cross it every day after it opens mid-year. WATCH THE TIMELAPSE

• Opinion: Brisbane urgently needs five new bridges

Brisbane has a brand new bridge this morning, after the Neville Bonner Bridge at the new $3.6bn Queen’s Wharf development “touched down”.

After two years of construction, the final section of the 320m long pedestrian bridge – named after Australia’s first federal Indigenous parliamentarian – was installed overnight.

The last metal span was connected at 3.40am.

The final piece of the Neville Bonner bridge was put in to place early on Monday. Picture: Liam Kidston

The bridge, which is likely to open in July or August, will link the dining and retail level of the new entertainment precinct development with South Bank, and flow through to George St.

The Star Entertainment Group Chief Operating Officer Kelvin Dodt said the bridge would open in conjunction with the $3.6 million Queen’s Wharf precinct, which was expected around Christmas.

Visiting the site on Monday morning, Deputy Premier Steven Miles described the completion of construction an “epic milestone”.

“You can really start to see our vision for connecting all of our precincts around the city, this bridge connecting Queen’s Wharf Brisbane and the new restaurants and hotels we will all get to enjoy with Southbank, where we will have a new theatre,” he said.

Star Entertainment group COO Kelvin Dodt, Deputy Premier Steven Miles and project director Simon Crooks inspects the bridge. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

“At either end you will be able to walk to the Gabba, connecting right around to the Gabba and Brisbane Live at Roma Street.

“Just down the street we will have our first new inner-city train station at Albert Street where you will be able to jump on a train to Roma Street, the (Brisbane Live) arena, Suncorp Stadium, or in the other direction to the Gabba.”

Destination Brisbane Consortium’s Simon Crooks, who is project manager, said the finishing touches will be put on the bridge in the coming weeks – a concrete slab and paving all the way across, followed by lighting.

Mr Crooks said the next milestone for Queen’s Wharf would be the completion of the Skydeck, which will connect the top of the project’s two hotels with the residential tower.

The final section of the Neville Bonner Bridge is installed on Monday night. Picture: Supplied

Star Entertainment Group chief executive Robbie Cooke said it was forecast 10,000 pedestrian crossings would occur on the bridge every day once it opened to the public later this year.

“The unique and elegant design of the sweeping bridge mast, which peaks at more than 75m above the river – the same height as the Story Bridge – has already proven to be an iconic addition to the Brisbane skyline,” Mr Cooke said.

“It will be a lasting connector for the city and play a significant role in the active transport route recently unveiled by the Queensland state government as part of its Olympic infrastructure legacy.”

Other works on the bridge, including paving, lighting and side facade will continue in the coming months.