Community Consultation Underway on Two New Bridges in Brisbane

Brisbane City Council has released details of two proposed pedestrian and cycle bridges, designed by WilkinsonEyre, for public consultation.

The West End Green Bridges scheme involves two new pedestrian/cyclist/alternative linkages connecting Toowong and St Lucia to the West End, each crossing the Brisbane River with spans of over 300 metres.

The proposed bridge between Toowong and West End is a cable stayed structure supported from an offset single mast to accommodate navigation along the river. The deck alignment follows a fluid curve across the river generating direct connections between Toowong and West End, Bicentennial Bikeway/Riverside Drive and Orleigh Park. The St Lucia crossing is a suspension bridge supported from pairs of pylons close to the riverbanks. The main span is straight but the deck meets a spiral ramp on the West End side to accommodate a level change required by the height of the bridge to allow navigation along the river. The ramp is balanced by a corresponding circular viewing platform on the opposite bank. Both bridges incorporate rest points, seating and viewing areas to capture vistas of Brisbane’s CBD, the curving Brisbane River and the surrounding natural landscape.  Both bridges feature lightweight shading devices in response to the city’s hot summers.

Brisbane City Council, through their Green Bridges Program, are proposing four new bridges in total across Brisbane which will make it even easier to get around on foot, by bike or scooter, and connect with public transport. Following the outcomes of community consultation in late 2020 and early 2021, and additional investigations undertaken to inform a preliminary business case, the council has now released the concept designs for Toowong to West End and West End to St Lucia bridges with community feedback until February 2022.  The initiative forms part of the wider city planning strategy taking shape in anticipation of hosting the summer Olympic Games in 2032. 

Full details of the consultation can be found here.