Brisbane’s first new vehicle bridge in a decade edges closer

The first car bridge to be built across the Brisbane River in a decade has edged closer, raising the promise of easing one of the city’s slowest commutes. Work is expected to start next year.

Construction is expected to start next year on the Centenary Bridge duplication, the first new car bridge to be built over the Brisbane River since 2010.

A development application has been lodged outlining details of tree and mangrove clearing and the acquisition of homes on the northern bank of the river at Jindalee.

Three temporary floating construction jetties will be used to build a new three-lane bridge, which will carry traffic heading from the booming Ipswich/Springfield/Ripley Valley area to the city.

The existing bridge carries more than 85,000 vehicles a day and current traffic modelling shows that by 2036 about 152,000 vehicles per day will cross it.

Artist's impression of the new bridge.

The existing link, originally opened in 1964 as a five-lane structure.

An extra span was added on each end of the existing bridge in 1965 and 1967 and the bridge was duplicated with new southbound lanes in 1986.

Since then nothing has changed and the only other car bridge built over the river was the Gateway (Sir Leo Hielscher) duplication project which opened in 2010.

The existing Centenary Bridge will be demolished as it is in poor condition, and replaced with a three-lane bridge handling southbound traffic.

There will be pedestrian and cycle access as well, with improved connections to the Western Fwy Bikeway and local destinations and retention of the Jindalee Skate Park.

About 800 sqm of Queensland bluegums and scattered mangroves will be cleared. There will be no offset vegetation planted to replace the loss.

Artist's impression of the bridges, looking southwest.

Artist's impression of the new bridges, looking north.

Five freehold properties and unallocated state land in Jindalee, Kenmore and Fig Tree Pocket will be resumed including homes at: 35A Sprinkbrae St, Fig Tree Pocket; 44 Amazons Pl, Jindalee; 27 Vidgen Ln, Kenmore; 303 Centenary Hwy, Jindalee; and 213 Sinnamon Rd, Jindalee.

The project will include longer and safer merge lanes for entry and exit ramps.

The existing merge is a bottleneck during the morning peak, with delays often extending kilometres back to Middle Park. Accidents are frequent.

A planning study for the Centenary Motorway Upgrade identified possible staged upgrades along the motorway from Sumners Rd, Darra, to Frederick St, Toowong.

A crash between a bus and seven vehicle on the Centenary Mwy at the Jindalee Bridge, southbound. The area is a high crash risk. Photo: 9 News Queensland

“The project is required as traffic analysis indicates that the existing bridge is already operating at capacity and traffic demand is expected to increase in the future,’’ consultants AECOM Australia said in the development application (DA) documents.

“In addition, condition assessments of the existing bridge carrying the northbound traffic lanes has determined a condition state of 4 (out of a possible 5), which is a subjective rating of ‘very poor’.’’

The existing bridge’s deck will be replaced with a new steel deck, existing abutment will be removed and an extra span built at the southern end, as well as new bridge barriers, new pavement surface and line marking, removal of old conduits and utilities.

An “intelligent transport system’’ and new signage and lighting will be installed.

The eastern bank of Jindalee Creek will be revegetated.

Flood damage at the bridge in 1974 has contributed to its poor condition. This barge was washed on to the upstream side, at one stage threatening to cause the bridge to collapse.

The State Government has committed $132 million to the project, while the Federal Government set aside $112 million in the October, 2020 Budget.

Public consultation closed in September and the results are currently being collated.

For more details visit Council’s online DA portal developnmenti and search for application number A005881236