Walls underneath the Story Bridge have been removed to make way for a new walking and riding connection in Kangaroo Point.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the new underpass between Main Street and Deakin Street would provide safe and convenient travel for residents and visitors.
“Brisbane is the fastest growing capital city in Australia which is why we’re investing in dedicated active travel connections to help people travel safely around our city,” Cr Schrinner said.
“To deliver this new connection we have cut openings into both sidewalls of the Story Bridge, with the walls delicately removed piece by piece.
“We now have daylight streaming through both sides of the underpass, lighting up a space that has never previously been accessible to the public.
“This underpass is a critical project that will connect the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge landing at Scott Street to the wider active transport network in Kangaroo Point and the eastern suburbs.
“It also represents a connection between Brisbane’s most iconic landmark of the last century and the future world-class landmark linking the city centre and Kangaroo Point Peninsula.
“This Story Bridge is not only part of Brisbane’s heritage but its future, so it’s fitting that 95 per cent of the concrete sections removed from the bridge will be recycled and could be given a new life in other parts of the city.”
The next stage of works now underway include levelling the floor, installing drainage, relocating utility services, and building a wall to separate the underpass from the existing Council depot.
Once completed, the underpass will feature new separated pedestrian and bike paths, an accessible viewing area, and illustrative wall panels depicting the history of the Story Bridge.
Cr Schrinner said the new underpass would take cars off the road and improve travel times for those walking and cycling.
“The new green bridge is expected to generate more than 6100 trips per day by 2036 and reduce car trips across the river by up to 84,000 each year,” he said.
“In 2041, it’s anticipated that around 2800 of those daily trips on the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge would continue through the new underpass.
“It provides a safe and rideable route from the eastern suburbs through Kangaroo Point, without the need to mix with traffic or take the long way around.
“The existing underpass at Thornton Street is not an accessible connection because of the stairs, and with the Olympics and Paralympic Games on the horizon there is a need for a convenient ongoing connection that would be able to link walkers and riders heading from The Gabba to the CBD.”
The Main Street and Deakin Street connection will include:
- a new separated pedestrian and bike path between Main Street and Deakin Street
- a raised priority crossing from the Scott Street bridge landing across Main Street
- a new underpass via the existing Council depot beneath the Story Bridge
- realignment of Deakin Street to provide an upgraded pedestrian path and two-way off-road bike path.
Construction of the connection is expected to be completed in 2024 ahead of the opening of the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge.
