Works starts on Centenary Bridge, Jindalee duplication
The first new major Brisbane vehicle bridge in more than a decade will be opened in two stages, with major works now under way. Here’s when the traffic buster will be ready.
The first sod was turned this morning (April 20) on the long-awaited $298.5 million Centenary Bridge duplication in Jindalee in Brisbane’s inner-west.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey has also revealed that the project, designed to help bust massive congestion on the Centenary Fwy/Western Fwy, will open in two stages.
A new bridge will open in 2025, initially with four narrower lanes.
An upgrade of the existing crossing would open by 2027, with three lanes.
At that time the new structure would be changed to three, wider lanes — creating six lanes all up, on two side-by-side bridges.
About 240 local jobs would be generated and new pedestrian and bicycle underpasses created.
The project would be jointly funded by the federal and state governments and comes after promises from both the LNP and Labor during the 2020 election.
Initial works would include underground services investigations, establishment of site
compounds, impact surveys and construction of a temporary jetty to enable bridge works.
Following this, construction activities would ramp up.
The project included a new three-lane northbound bridge, widening of the existing bridges to create three southbound lanes and upgraded pedestrian and cycle connections to the Western Fwy Bikeway and local destinations such as Jindalee Skate Park.
More than 85,000 vehicles used the existing crossing every day and it has long been a chokepoint in both morning and afternoon peak periods due to new housing estates in Springfield and Ipswich.
“More than 152,000 people will use these bridges by 2036, showing just how important it is to deliver this upgrade now,’’ Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.
“Our government will back big upgrades like this to create hundreds of jobs and supply chain opportunities for local workers and businesses.”
Federal Infrastructure Minister, Catherine King, said the two extra lanes would help commuters get to where they needed to go much faster.
Local federal MP Milton Dick described it as a game-changer, while local state MP Jess Pugh said the start of work today was a milestone.
“Now, we have a reliable, Queensland-based contractor on the ground delivering the
upgrade our community has been calling for,’’ Ms Pugh said.
Mr Bailey thanked motorists for their patience ahead of the major works beginning.
Local state Greens MP Michael Berkman said however that “bigger motorways make more traffic jams’’.
“It’s not too late to create a Western Busway with bus lanes on the Centenary Mwy from Darra to Toowong,’’ he said.
“A Western Busway would make public transport a real option for more people in the south west and west side by letting buses skip the traffic jams.
“Brisbane residents deserve the freedom to leave their car at home, but both state and federal governments are stuck in the past building ever wider roads.
“The State Government’s bogus figures are based on flawed modelling that assumes zero new public transport services out to 2041.
“Their flawed modelling is about to become a self-fulfilling prophecy as they waste millions on motorways while public transport starves.’’
Mr Berkman and local federal Greens MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown instead called for six lanes on the Centenary Mwy, with the fifth and sixth lanes being bus-only.
Shadow Transport and Main Roads spokesman Steve Minnikin said there had now been an “embarrassing’’ two-year delay and $50 million blowout before the first sod had been turned.
“Mr Bailey promised work on the critical transport link would begin construction in 2021, but the project has been sitting in governmental-gridlock, facing delay after delay at the hands of the Palaszczuk Labor Government,’’ he said.
“How much more will the new Centenary Bridge cost by the time Queenslanders are driving across it?”
Local state LNP MP Christian Rowan said the Government had dropped the ball on the bridge and other vital road infrastructure.
“The western suburbs of Brisbane are calling for traffic-busting solutions from this Government, but they’ve got no answers,’’ Dr Rowan said.
“The Centenary Mwy bridge project has been delay after delay — and it’s not the only road and public transport issue in the western suburbs.
“There has been no transparency on how the Palaszczuk Labor Government will improve safety at the Kenmore Roundabout, through to Kilkivan Ave, now it has scrapped the upgrade project.
“There are also ongoing delays and a lack of communication for plans to progress the Mount-Crosby Rd-Warrego Hiwy Interchange upgrade.’’
The construction contract was awarded in December last year to Queensland-based companies Georgiou Group and BMD Constructions, through a joint-venture.
The project team can be contacted on 3066 4338 or via email. More details available online
