Brisbane bikeway could cost $130m: lobby group

A bikeway servicing the University of Queensland could cost $130 million. Or much, much less. What option is chosen is critical.

The design of any future bikeway from Toowong to St Lucia will be critical in its cost, a lobby group says.

Hot on the heels of controversy about the cost of the Indooroopilly Riverwalk, debate has begun about how best to link the project to St Lucia.

And there could be tens of millions of dollars difference between the cheapest and the dearest options.

State Greens MP for the Indooroopilly-based seat of Maiwar, Michael Berkman, suggested recently that there needed to be a “conversation’’ about closing a lane on Sir Fred Schonell Drive, St Lucia, to help keep construction costs down.

Council is believed to have done preliminary geotechnical work on a future, over-river option from Toowong to the University of Queensland at St Lucia.

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But Chris Cox, from lobby group Space4Cycling, said that could cost $130 million, based on the $73,000-per-metre cost of the Indooroopilly Riverwalk.

Instead, he suggested linking Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner’s two proposed green bridges.

“If council is already going to build these, it would be cheaper and more politically acceptable,’’ Mr Cox said.

“It’s 1.8km from Guyatt Park to Toowong,’’ Mr Cox said.

“For the same cost per metre as the Indooroopilly Riverwalk, you’re looking at $130 million — it’s huge.

“An on-road solution would be much cheaper to deliver but would require reallocating the space to accommodate a bikeway.

“This would be difficult politically, but a double bridge solution would avoid all that.’’

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Mr Cox suggested linking the two green bridges — one from West End to Guyatt Park, and the other from Orleigh Park, in West End, possibly to the old ABC Toowong site.

He said although the route would cross the river twice, it was a similar length to running a bikeway on pylons above the river from Toowong-Guyatt Park.

However, he suggested landing the second bridge at the old ferry terminal site in Laurence St, to address concerns from residents about impacts on Guyatt Park’s green space.

Brisbane City Council was contacted for comment.

Chris Cox with Labor MP Jess Pugh, Transport Minister Mark Bailey and Andrew Demack from Bicycle Queensland.

Mr Berkman raised the Sir Fred Schonell option a fortnight ago, just before the $58 million cost of the 790m Indooroopilly Riverwalk was revealed.

Before that, a cost of just $7 million for stages 1-2 was known.

“We should have a real conversation about removing street parking and/or a lane of car traffic on Sir Fred Schonell Drive,’’ he posted on Facebook.

“Right now, buses crawl along here while cars and cyclists are discouraged since it’s really dangerous.

“A cheap and long-term solution would be to convert at least one lane to protected cycle paths with a tidal bus lane or similar set up,’’ he wrote.

However, Councillor James Mackay (Walter Taylor) dismissed the idea.

“Random thought bubbles like this are a recipe for chaos that you see from parties and politicians who are completely out of touch with the community,’’ he said.

“Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner’s plan for a network of green bridges will ease congestion and get you home quicker and safer.’’