‘At risk’: Story Bridge’s shock state of disrepair revealed
Queensland’s Story Bridge is disintegrating so badly it could soon be turned back into a toll bridge or Brisbane ratepayers slugged a levy to pay for repairs to save it from demolition. VOTE IN OUR POLL
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Queensland’s iconic Story Bridge 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, a new report has revealed.
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.
Already Council has shut indefinitely a critical walkway — initially closed for Tropical Cyclone Alfred — after compulsory structure assessments found the footpaths had deteriorated “at an accelerated pace”.
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”.
There are four main funding options to pay for the restoration according to the report, including:
• Annual joint contributions over a 15-year period by the Queensland and Australian governments and Brisbane Council.
• Reintroduction of the toll removed in 1947, similar to what is in place on Sydney Harbour Bridge.
• Special rates levy on Brisbane ratepayers just like the City Hall restoration.
• Corporate sponsorships.
The federal government has already set aside $2.25m to help pay for a detailed business case into the Story Bridge restoration — work which will determine the true cost and timelines of the project.
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.
“The Story Bridge is an icon and I’m sure all Queenslanders and all Australians will support its full restoration. I’m confident the other levels of government will partner with us to restore the bridge and the footpaths,” Mr Schrinner said.
“A toll or levy should only be considered if we can’t get a joint long-term agreement from both the State and Federal governments.
“Just like state and national governments have invested in restoring other historic bridges across the world, it’s going to take a team effort from all levels of government to restore the Story Bridge.”
The report noted the bridge had now been classified as an “at risk” asset by council due to its current condition.
Parts of the bridge were also in “urgent need of attention” with significant existing corrosion across the structure.
Without intervention tourism and commercial activities associated with the bridge would become less viable, and more traffic would have to be diverted to other inner-city crossings like the Captain Cook Bridge and William Jolly Bridge — in turn making congestion worse.
Already critical paths shut ahead of Cyclone Alfred will “remain closed” while “potential temporary and long-term replacement solutions are investigated”.
Council was also fast-tracking the installation of protective netting to catch bits of falling concrete peeling away from the bridge, according to the report.
A full replacement of the bridge with a new structure was “simply not feasible” according to the committee’s report, partly because this would be much more expensive and cost several billion dollars.
According to the report if nothing is done the footpaths on the bridge will remain closed, capacity on the bridge would be restricted during the 2032 Games, and by 2035 public transport and freight would need to be completely barred.
The bridge, which turns 100 in 2040, would be shut by 2045 and ultimately demolished.
Mr Chamier said despite regular maintenance and renewal work by Council, significant investment was needed to restore the bridge to ensure it remained safe for another century.
The Committee found Council had invested more than $120 million in the Story Bridge over the past 20 years in addition to spending around $3 million a year to maintain the bridge over the long term.
“Restoring the Story Bridge will be challenging, particularly when it comes to securing funding and the necessary resources to ensure critical restoration works can be delivered in the coming years,’’ Mr Chamier.
“The Restoration Committee will continue to support Council and its funding partners to oversee this critical project to ensure the bridge’s safety, functionality, and enduring legacy is preserved for future generations.”
Manchester tourists Katy Smith and Neve Waller were left disappointed this week as they tried to navigate a closed Story Bridge on their last day in Brisbane.
“I’ve heard there is lots to do normally in Brisbane - but maybe we have chosen a bad time to visit everything seems to be shut,” Ms Smith said.
“But to be fair we haven’t been able to cross the river yet, we have had to stay on this one side because of the bridge.”
“It’s a real shame.”
Ms Waller said the iconic Story Bridge had been a real inconvenience and meant that for someone new to Brisbane, walking around the city was much more confusing.
“Absolutely it has been (an inconvenience),” Ms Waller said.
“I actually woke up this morning and said let’s try and go for a big walk and have a look at the bridge,” she said.
“But it’s all closed.”
Tenerife local and bicycle rider Mick Sly said the bridge closures meant fellow cyclists were forced to take dangerous detours through the city or completely change their plans.
“It’s affecting all the cyclists because you can’t get through along the riverfront here because of all Eagle Street,” Mr Sly said.
“The city’s too dangerous with cyclists and all the cars.
“So, since they’ve closed that, it’s just affected all our cyclists going to the southside or university and those sort of places.”
Mr Sly said he understood upgrades needed to happen but couldn’t see why both pedestrian and cycle lanes of the bridge had to be closed at the same time.
“It stopped all your cycle traffic like Lime cycles, cyclists like us and walkers,” he said.
“People have got the new bridge open - well that’s virtually obsolete now unless you’re going to Kangaroo Point.
“So it has affected me. I can understand closing one side. But a lot of people can’t understand why they closed both sides.
“I don’t know why it’s so dangerous if the cars are still going across there but they close the cycle path. It’s always been alright. Never been a problem, so it has caused a bit of trouble.”
Additional reporting Tim Little
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Originally published as ‘At risk’: Story Bridge’s shock state of disrepair revealed
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