Cyclists get own lane alongside Brisbane Metro vehicles in Victoria Bridge revamp

THE number of lanes available to Brisbane Metro vehicles on this city bridge will be reduced to accommodate the demands of cyclists, but it means design changes to the $944m transport plan.

THE number of lanes available to Brisbane Metro vehicles on Victoria Bridge will be reduced to accommodate the demands of cyclists.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Metro services will now run on only three lanes of the bridge, with cyclists using the fourth. The council claims the move won’t affect Metro services and follows community consultation.

But it does mean there will be some changes to the design of the $944 million transport project.

How Victoria Bridge will look, with three lanes for Metro vehicles, one for cyclists and a pedestrian walkway.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said community consultation had also revealed ­locals supported their decision to close Victoria Bridge to general traffic.

“This new design for the Victoria Bridge will reconfigure the number of Metro and bus lanes from four to three, introducing a separated two-way cycleway on the upstream side of the bridge and cycle lanes on Melbourne St,” he said.

Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner touted the changes as a win for locals, with ­further consultation on other elements of the project in South Brisbane, West End and the CBD to begin soon.

“Detailed analysis shows that the three-lane configuration will still provide more capacity for public transport, but will also deliver an improved outcome for people on bikes and on foot,” he said.

“Council will undertake further community engagement on the changes to the Victoria Bridge and Melbourne St pedestrian and cyclist access, and inner-city traffic network over the coming weeks.”

The council is yet to determine the design of the Metro vehicles as they consider expressions of interest from firms vying to build them.

It is also yet to announce when Victoria Bridge will be closed to general traffic.

Construction is expected to begin next year, while services will commence in 2023.

Services will run on two lines between the University of Queensland and the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, as well as Eight Miles Plains and Roma St.

The project is being built to reduce the number of buses in the CBD and cut congestion.