Traffic bridge lobby group rejects green bridge proposal

Bellbowrie traffic bridge advocates want the Brisbane City Council to do more than a green crossing to Wacol

Simon Ingram on the Bellbowrie side of the river. Picture: Richard Walker

Feelings about a proposed green bridge from Bellbowrie to Wacol are running high on both sides of the river following the Brisbane City Council’s call for public responses to its proposal.

The proposed bridge is one of a package of five new green bridges announced by Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner who said the new bridges would tackle traffic congestion by improving cross-river public and active transport connections.

A period of public consultation on on the bridge plans is now in progress.

While Brisbane West Bicycle User Group spokesman Chris Cox has called the bridge “forward thinking”, the plan has failed to please long-term advocates for a traffic bridge.

Bridge 4 Bellbowrie Advocacy Group spokesman Simon Ingram said at peak times Moggill Rd was a “carpark” that bottlenecked traffic through to Chapel Hill.

“Our group feels strongly that it needs to be a general traffic bridge,” he said.

“A green bridge is good for emergency services and cyclists, but the majority of people are not commuting to the city, about 85 per cent of the traffic on Moggill Rd is driving to other locations.”

A Middle Park resident, who asked not to be named, said she did not want a traffic bridge to come directly into the Centenary suburbs.

“The reason people choose to live here and pay higher-than-average prices for their houses is that west of Centenary Highway there are no major roads to carry heavy traffic.

“We value this peace and quiet.”

Jamboree Heights real estate agent Alan Peters said the benefits of either style of bridge to the Centenary Suburbs were likely to be minimal, but would be helpful to residents on the Bellbowrie side of the river.

He said he did not foresee any impact on house prices.

“A traffic bridge would be welcomed by the people from Bellbowrie, Moggill Rd is a disaster,” he said.

“I don’t see a traffic bridge from Bellbowrie causing any problems for the Centenary suburbs.
“It would increase traffic onto Sumners Rd, which is already a very busy road.”

Mr Peters said he welcomed the new road bridge being built at Jindalee, but was lukewarm about the benefits of a green bridge for the Centenary suburbs.

“There’s probably no advantage for our suburbs, but it would provide better public transport and allow people access to the Darra Station and Centenary Shopping Centre,” he said.

Mr Cox said in addition to benefits for cyclists, the proposed green bridge would

provide for better access for emergency services, and a contingency route in the case of another flood or bushfire threat that may cut Moggill and Mt Crosby roads.

“We commend Brisbane City Council for this plan, which some people have described as ‘out there’, but we think is forward thinking, and urge residents on both sides of the river to approach the proposal with an open mind and consider the benefits for their families, friends and broader community,” Mr Cox said.

Details of the proposed bridge released by the council:

Bellbowrie Bridge – potential pedestrian/cycle/public transport bridge, emergency access,

river end of Weekes Road at Bellbowrie to Grindle Road at Wacol.

Community consultation continues until December 6 with the final information sessions on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday.

To have your say about the green bridge proposal email the council’s project team: [e-mail]

To tell us what you think email: [e-mail]