Bribie Bridge to be replaced regardless of $700m Labor election promise

The Bribie Bridge will need to be knocked down and rebuilt even if a re-elected Labor government spends $700 million duplicating it.

The Bribie Bridge will need to be knocked down and rebuilt even if a re-elected Labor government spends $700 million duplicating it.

Labor this week announced it would borrow nearly $1bn to duplicate the 900m bridge if re-elected in October, despite not yet having a completed business case for the project.

A press release dated January 16, 2023 and signed off by then-Transport Minister Mark Bailey confirms the existing Bribie Bridge will still need to be replaced at an unknown cost however, that document is missing from government archives.

The government statement requested community feedback on the two options being explored by the business case; upgrade the existing bridge to four lanes or duplicate it.

It explicitly states that if the bridge was duplicated “another two-lane bridge would eventually be required to replace the existing bridge”.

“A further alternative is an entirely new four-lane bridge,” it read.

“The results of the detailed assessment of the existing bridge will be essential in determining its current condition, remaining life, maintenance and rehabilitation costs, and if continued use is a practical option.”

View of current Bribie Island bridge. Picture Lachie Millard

Pumicestone MP Ali King has since claimed the existing bridge has “many decades” of life left, but could not detail exactly how long.

“That’s as specific as I’ve heard,” she said.

She also claimed the $700m duplication was the best value for money option, despite Transport and Main Roads stating the current bridge could withstand traffic levels for the “foreseeable future”.

According to TMR, it could cost up to 20 per cent more to turn the existing bridge to four-lanes under modern safety standards.

The election promise was made by Premier Steven Miles was met as he visited Bribie Island with his cabinet ministers.

A community meeting was held on Wednesday night, where the premier pledged to direct bureaucrats to go back to the drawing board over stage four of the western alternative Bruce Hwy project.

Frustrated property owners whose homes are in the path of the second arterial road have called on the government to reconsider the route between Beerburrum and Moodlu.

Mr Miles has directed the Department of Transport and Main roads to reassess whether there is an alternative corridor.

Pumicestone MP Ali King, Premier Steven Miles and Treasurer Cameron Dick at Bongaree on Tuesday look over plans for a proposed new bridge to Bribie Island. Picture Lachie Millard

“This doesn’t necessarily mean that there is a better alternative but it does mean that they will consider the alternative put forward by those local residents and see if we can find a better solution,“ he said.

The state and federal governments have each allocated $10m to planning for the western highway.

The review of stage four will not affect the first three stages, Mr Miles said, which will link Moodlu to Bald Hills.

The premier insisted the project would continue due to the significant growth expected in the Moreton Bay corridor.

“Caboolture West will be a new city the size of Mackay and the current Bruce Highway cannot take that level of traffic,” he said.

A timeline for the review has not been provided and the premier said properties could still be affected.

Originally published as Bribie Bridge to be replaced regardless of $700m Labor election promise