What you said about Story Bridge needing significant work

Knock it down? Complete refurbishment? Or time for tolls? Apparently all options are on the table for this Qld icon. HAVE YOUR SAY

Knock it down? Complete refurbishment? Or time for tolls?

Apparently all options are on the table when it comes to Queensland’s iconic Story Bridge, which is disintegrating so badly it could soon be turned back into a toll bridge or Brisbane ratepayers slugged a special levy to pay for repairs.

But this could be avoided if the state and federal governments fork out funding for the massive restoration project — with a once-in-a-generation overhaul considered to be the only viable option to keep the bridge alive.

A new independent report commissioned by the Brisbane City Council has found the 85-year-old Story Bridge is in a such a state of disrepair it will not be safe for most users — vehicles and pedestrians alike — in about 20 years.

In a dark note for Brisbane, use of the bridge would also be restricted during the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games if nothing is done at a time when it should be featuring prominently.

Story Bridge: 80 years in 54 pictures

VIEW GALLERY

The Story Bridge Restoration Committee, chaired by Nigel Chamier AM who also steered the major restoration of Brisbane City Hall, found preserving the Story Bridge would come at a “significant cost” which “cannot be managed by Council alone”.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the full restoration project was beyond the means of council.

He also shot down the levy idea, arguing it was “unacceptable” as half the traffic on the Story Bridge each day was from outside of Brisbane.

■ Read about the wild history of the Story Bridge

So what do readers think?

In an online poll it was an even split between those willing to pay a toll for use of the bridge, while many claimed it was time for a new era.

Others, though, took aim at the LNP for failing to maintain the icon, while some suggested the state or national governments should foot the bill.

See what you had to say below and join the conversation >>>

WHAT YOU SAID

I blame LNP

Scutus

Typical LNP failure. How long has Brisbane endured the economically inept LNP city council? And here’s another example of their inability to maintain basic infrastructure!

Burntbear

Too much money spent on tunnels and not enough on maintenance.

Marilyn

Massive incompetence in what should have been repaired over the years through general maintenance.

Tony

This is what happens when government self interest overrides good government. This problem has been exposed now but it’s simply a by-product of years of neglect by successive local, state & federal governments of both persuasion

Bruce

Perhaps Shrinner could explain what he has been doing sing he took office? He’s been in office for a while so it seems strange that maintenance hasn’t been kept up.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner shot down the idea of Brisbane ratepayers being slugged a levy, saying restoration costs should be shared among different levels of government. Picture: Liam Kidston

Just get it done

Neil

It’s the same story as your stadiums, why are you spending billions of dollars to impress.

Owen

We also need another bridge or tunnel midway between Storey Bridge and The Gateway That would remove a lot of traffic

Robbo

Build a new bridge but traffic chaos for 5 years plus. Then you have the Olympics on your doorstep to boot.

Cameron

Built on the cheap, maintained on the cheap.

The Story Bridge being built. The bridge was opened in 1940. Picture: Queensland State Archives.

Time to go

Gregory

While I acknowledge the Story bridge has become a iconic symbol of Brisbane the reality is the steel rivet construction technique has had its day. Another refurbishment is simply deferring the inevitable. It is time to bite the bullet. Design and build a new bridge based on a design competition that delivers a new icon the city can be proud of. We need to stop pushing our problems onto future generations.

holy quail

I quite often use the Story Bridge and find the road surface to be substandard for a major thoroughfare let alone its issues with corrosion etc .

Why not be bold like Sydney was in replacing the old Pyrmont Bridge with the excellent Anzac Bridge, still maintaining the Pyrmont as a heritage site.

J*P

It can be repaired without a total knockdown but that will take longer. A very detailed study is needed to determine the extent of deterioration and what margin is left. Some components may be salvageable, others will need to be completely replaced.

Dave

They’ll just bulldoze it like they are going to do with the Gabba. Razor history and build something shiny is the government’s and Council’s theory.

Mick Sly said the closures were an inconvenience to cyclists. Picture: Timothy Little

I have an idea

Looking for the Truth

Why should the poor old motorist pay for the renovations, they are not the only users.

Matthew

A toll bridge, get out of it. Like a business we project costs for maintenance on items in advance to ensure we can cover the costs. Maybe our Govt or councils could try the same thing and reduce wasteful spending elsewhere … Just an idea

Mark1

Close the bridge for repairs and make the tunnel free while the repairs are being made.

Enough Already

I’m sure Linkt will be happy to install the infrastructure if you give them a contract for 50 years or so.

Originally published as What you said about Story Bridge needing significant work