Brisbane Metro: $5m upgrades for CBD and inner-south intersections after Victoria Bridge closure

BRISBANE City Council’s transport boss has announced $5 million to keep one of the city’s free bridges flowing when Victoria Bridge closes to general traffic for Brisbane Metro – but the Opposition says one thing doesn’t add up with the modelling.

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BRISBANE City Council’s transport chairman has announced $5 million in intersection upgrades in the CBD and the inner south, to keep the free William Jolly Bridge flowing when Victoria Bridge closes to general traffic for Brisbane Metro.

Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner insisted residents would not be forced to use the Go Between toll bridge after the Victoria Bridge closes to private vehicles.

An artist's impression of a Brisbane Metro vehicle travelling across Victoria Bridge.

He said traffic modelling showed the closure would divert 70 per cent of drivers to the free William Jolly Bridge and 30 per cent would “go elsewhere”.

He announced the council would upgrade Grey St and Peel St, Peel St and Merivale St, Roma St and Countess St and Upper Roma St and Skew St.

The public transport boss said that same modelling showed that the amount of traffic on the Go-Between Bridge, which is a toll bridge, would not change.

“Modelling shows there will be no change to Go-Between Bridge as a result of the Victoria Bridge closure,” he said.

“They will in fact choose to use the William Jolly Bridge in the main.

“The travel times from West End to the CBD via the Victoria Bridge was 10 minutes, and it was 11 minutes via the William Jolly Bridge.”

“With the upgrades, the travel time on William Jolly Bridge will be the same as Victoria Bridge or even less. Even less.”

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk and Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner. Picture: Mark Cranitch

Opposition public transport spokesman Jared Cassidy said the upgrades were “essential and a no-brainer”.

“The project will have an enormous impact on traffic and I doubt the State Government would approve works without a plan for dealing with traffic chaos,” he said.

Cr Cassidy called on Cr Schrinner to release the traffic modelling.

“I find it difficult to believe that the modelling shows not one single vehicle currently using the Victoria Bridge will use the Go Between Bridge,” he said.

“While we would like to take the Deputy Mayor on his word, we’ve learnt you really need to see it on paper first when it comes to their commitments on Brisbane Metro.”

He said the William Jolly Bridge was often congested with immense infill development in West End, while Grey St would be reduced to one lane.