New bridge comes with hefty price tag

Construction will finally begin on the long-awaited Centenary Bridge duplication next year – more than two years after it was announced and with a $50m budget blowout.

Construction will finally begin on the long-awaited Centenary Bridge duplication next year – more than two years after it was announced and with a $50m budget blowout.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Tuesday the upgrade was now one step closer, with the construction contract jointly awarded to Georgiou Group and BMD Constructions.

The Premier said the project would see a new three-lane, northbound bridge built in Jindalee, plus an upgrade to the existing structure, with work to begin in 2023.

“More than 85,000 cars use this bridge daily, and that number will increase,” she said.

“This is an important step towards busting congestion through our growing region.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Pic: NCA NewsWire / Josh Woning

The Federal and Queensland governments will jointly fund the $298.5 million project.

In early October 2020 – in the lead up to the state election – Ms Palaszczuk “work (would) begin in the middle of next year (2021)”.

At the time, the project was also said to cost $244m – about $54m less than the figure announced yesterday – with Queensland chipping in $132m and the federal government investing $112m.

LNP transport spokesman Steve Minnikin accused the government of making the announcement in-between Christmas and the New Year “because they are horribly embarrassed this project is already running years late and has already blown out by $50m”.

“The official price tag for the project has always been $244m,” he said.

“Today the Premier tried to hide in a media release that the project has now blown out to $298.5m before a shovel is even in the ground.”

Queensland LNP member for Chatsworth Steve Minnikin. Pic: AAP Image/Glenn Hunt

Mr Minnikin said the two-year construction delay was evidence the government had “disastrously failed to manage” a vital infrastructure project.

“And every single Queensland taxpayer and commuter are paying for it,” he said.

Local ALP state member Jess Pugh said she knew how “desperately our community wants shovels in the ground”.

“Previous tender submissions came in low, and another even promised to build two new bridges with the funding – both options had to be thoroughly explored to make sure we were getting the best value for taxpayers,” she said.

“After consideration, we saw that these tender submissions could not deliver on what was promised. I’m pleased we can now move forward with a reliable, Queensland based joint venture, with over 40 years experience.”

Speaking from beside the Centenary Bridge on Tuesday afternoon, Opposition leader David Crisafulli said the blow-out was “deeply disappointing”, accusing the government of not taking infrastructure promises seriously.

“The government stood on this spot and said it was going to be built in 2021, and now it won’t start until 2023,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“I think even the most lenient of critic would acknowledge they must have known something when they stood here two years ago - that’s a massive blow out in time.”

“It’s about making sure that there is a culture of respecting taxpayer’s money and respecting deadlines.”

“They have to change the culture of delivering builds in this state, and it starts with being open and transparent.”