Centenary Bridge, Kenmore roundabout to get major changes

A major change is coming to the congested Kenmore roundabout, while the start date for construction on a duplicate Centenary Bridge has been revealed. SEE WHAT’S PLANNED

Two of Brisbane’s most notorious traffic chokepoints are about to score major upgrades after motorists have endured years of delays and broken promises.

Shovels were expected to hit the bitumen at the Centenary Bridge duplication early next year, with a construction contract due to be awarded next month.

And the Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) has ruled out replacing Kenmore roundabout with traffic lights, in response to significant opposition to the idea from locals.

It has been more than 550 days since public consultation on the roundabout draft upgrade closed and two years since the State Government promised to duplicate the $242 million bridge, a key connection to the fast-growing suburbs from Springfield to the Ripley Valley.

Kenmore roundabout will not be turned into a signalised intersection. Picture: Richard Walker

Local state LNP MP, Dr Christian Rowan, blasted delays on both projects at a joint press conference with Opposition Leader David Crisafulli and Opposition Transport spokesman Steve Minnikin on Thursday.

It was believed complexities in the tendering process for the bridge had contributed to the blowout in its construction timeline.

How the bridge project would look.

The project was first announced by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Transport Minister Mark Bailey and the local Mt Ommaney Labor MP, Jess Pugh, during the 2020 election campaign.

The LNP Opposition also promised during the election campaign to duplicate the bridge.

The strong public opposition to traffic lights at the roundabout sparked a rethink on the design, particularly active transport.

But there was still no clarification on whether the roundabout’s current design would be changed.

The duplication, pictured looking south.

The project will create six lanes spread across one new bridge and the existing Centenary Bridge. Pictured looking north.

During peak periods traffic often banked up almost a kilometre in the mornings, well past Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic primary school, and in evenings cars were often backed up on Moggill Rd almost to Kenmore Plaza shopping centre.

“We are anticipating contract award for the construction of the Centenary Bridge upgrade will occur in December, subject to progress of complex tender negotiations,’’ a DTMR spokesman said.

“Construction is expected to start in 2023.

“The new, three-lane, northbound bridge and refurbishment of the existing bridges to become a wider southbound bridge will improve motorway capacity.

“The project focuses on safety improvements and travel time reliability as well as improved active transport facilities and local connections.’’

The spokesman said community feedback DTMR received in April last year for the roundabout upgrade was “unsupportive of changing the roundabout to a signalised intersection’’.

“Since then, we have continued to investigate options for the Moggill Rd corridor, including improving active transport facilities through Kenmore.

“We will install smart crossings at the existing signalised pedestrian crossings on Brookfield Rd at Kenmore Village and on Moggill Rd at Kenmore State School, to assist congestion in this area.

Moggill Rd traffic near Kenmore roundabout. Picture: Patria Jannides

“Compared with standard signalised crossings, smart crossings use sensors to detect pedestrian movement and automatically adjust the amount of time required to cross.

“This allows pedestrians to cross safely without having to rush, and for motorists it means less waiting when there are fewer pedestrians using the crossing.’’

That work was expected to be completed in mid-2023.

“We will continue to work with the community on further options for the intersection in the future,’’ the spokesman said.

(L-R) Moggill MP Dr Christian Rowan, Opposition Leader David Crisafulli and Steve Minniken at the Centenary Bridge site on Thursday (November 3).

Dr Rowan, who has pursued the Government over the delays, said it went the wrong way about the roundabout planning process.

“They should have consulted the community first and then come up with designs,’’ he said.

“Instead, they put out a design with a (signalised) intersection and now find people don’t want that.

“There is still no word on what they will do about traffic at the roundabout itself and nothing on safety outside OLR (Our Lady of the Rosary).’’

Dr Rowan said a few smart crossings would not cost the $25 million in federal/state funding allocated for the project and queried how the rest of the money would be used.

He also criticised the delay on starting work for the new bridge, a joint federal/state project.