Queensland’s Story Bridge won’t be safe to drive on without sustained funding

The iconic Queensland bridge is disintegrating faster than expected, leading to tolls possibly being introduced.

Brisbane’s Story Bridge is disintegrating faster than expected, according to an independent report. Picture: David Clark

You can now listen to The Australian's articles. Give us your feedback.

You can now listen to The Australian's articles.

Brisbane’s Story Bridge is disintegrating faster than expected and won’t be safe to drive on in 20 years if the council doesn’t secure state and federal funding for res­toration works, or impose a toll on drivers.

The heritage-listed bridge, opened in 1940, was not designed to hold its current volume of traffic, with over 100,000 motorists using it every day.

Due to the heavy traffic, the bridge’s footpaths are deteriorating and its bolts are rusting. Pieces of concrete are expected to fall off the bridge in the coming years and safety netting will have to be installed to catch it.

If sufficient funding is not provided, the bridge will not be open for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Story Bridge Restoration Committee – appointed by Brisbane lord mayor Adrian Schrinner in October – said on Tuesday that hundreds of millions needed to be spent on the bridge to extend its life for another 100 years.

From left, Story Bridge Restoration Committee member Peter Burnton, Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, committee chair Nigel Chamier and committee member Graham McHugh. Picture: David Clark

Mr Schrinner said the investment was much larger than the council could afford by itself. He would not say how much needed to be spent in just the next 15 years.

“The bridge was originally built by the state government in the 1940s and clearly the full restoration project will be beyond the means of our council,” Mr Schrinner said. “The Story Bridge is an icon and I’m sure all Queenslanders and all Australians will support its full restoration so it can continue to operation for another 100 years.”

The committee has recommended three funding options for the bridge restoration; the preferred solution is joint funding ­between the federal and state governments over the next 15 years.

Bolts are rotting and pieces of concrete are expected to begin falling off the iconic bridge. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Other solutions include placing an annual rates levy on Brisbane ratepayers and reintro­ducing a bridge toll for the first time since 1947.

Story Bridge Restoration Committee chair Nigel Chamier said those two alternative solutions were less desirable than the joint funding.

“There are other options if we can’t get the funding from the state and the federal governments but that’s not really acceptable,” Mr Chamier said.

“It doesn’t seem fair to put a levy on city ratepayers when 42 per cent of (the bridge’s) users don’t live here.

“And putting a toll on the bridge would raise sufficient funds but it’s nice to have one free major bridge across the river.”

The Story Bridge under construction in 1938.

Mr Schrinner added that he was “confident that we’ll get ­support from other levels of ­government.”

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said no formal request had been made to the state government for funding, with the onus on the council to plead its case.

“It’s a council asset,” Mr Bleijie said. “The council are responsible for maintaining their assets, just like the state government are ­responsible for maintaining our assets.

“If it requires funding, and if council can’t afford (repairs), they’re going to have to convince the federal and state government why we should be investing in the council asset, as they do from time to time with other council assets.”

The federal government has funded an in-depth business case to determine the Story Bridge’s restoration costs, which is currently under way.

A spokeswoman for Infra­structure Minister Catherine King said the federal government had invested $2.25m to investigate what was needed for the Story Bridge’s restoration.

“The Story Bridge is a Brisbane icon that holds a special place in the hearts of many Queenslanders,” she said.

“This is important planning work which will inform the scope, costs and timing of the project.”