Duplicate $750m Bribie Island bridge revealed as best access option

A second Bribie Island bridge – at a cost of more than $750 million – has been recommended instead of a brand new four-lane bridge, but no one can say how long the existing, ageing one will last.

Traffic moving on Bribie Island bridge. Picture Lachie Millard

A business case has recommended the state government build a second two-lane bridge to Bribie Island at a cost of more than $750m instead of a four-lane replacement of the existing one.

The report, completed by the Department of Transport and Main Roads, has found a new two-lane eastbound bridge with an active transport path alongside the existing bridge, which would provide two westbound lanes, was the less costly option.

The estimated construction cost is now $756.56 million – the equivalent of spending nearly $37,000 on each of the island’s 20,612 residents, based on the 2021 Census.

The detailed assessment found the existing bridge structure was “performing well” and had been deemed “suitable for continued use as a transport bridge”.

“Suitability of the existing bridge has been confirmed through structural inspections and assessments, and this arrangement will remain until such time as the existing bridge is no longer serviceable,” the report said.

But it stopped short of revealing just how much life was left in the 62-year-old bridge, which had growing safety issues due to how narrow it is and its age.

View of current Bribie Island bridge. Picture Lachie Millard

The report said a new two-lane bridge would be designed to enable future widening to four lanes when the existing bridge is “no longer cost effective to maintain”.

A new bridge has been in the works since July 2022 and was a point on contention during the state election.

The Miles Labor Government promised it would build a new $700m four-lane bridge, if elected, as its first 2024 election commitment before the business case was completed and costings were known.

In response, the LNP launched a full-throated attack on the Miles government for stealing its idea to duplicate the bridge, amid claims Labor was porkbarreling the seat of Pumicestone for sitting MP Ali King, who was ultimately ousted by the LNP’s Ariana Doolan.

At the time of the $700m pitch by the Miles government, analysis of the latest Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program showed the bridge duplication to be the most expensive transport project funded unilaterally by the state government since Cross River Rail.

Transport and Main Roads minister Brent Mickelberg said the Crisafulli Government would commit to constructing the duplicate bridge.

“The Crisafulli Government is not going to wait for the Bribie Island Bridge to have a capacity crisis, and safety is our number one focus,” Mr Mickelberg said.

“We will now consider the assessment and time frames for funding, detailed design, and construction.”

The business case further proposed intersection upgrades at Sylvan Beach Esplanade and the Sandstone Point Hotel entrance, along with lane duplication to Bestmann Road East and crossing points to divert traffic between bridges to maintain traffic flow when required.

Originally published as Duplicate $750m Bribie Island bridge revealed as best access option