The 2025-26 Budget confirms more than $18 million will be invested in the Story Bridge this year.
This includes $6.9 million to install replacement footpath decking, with an order placed for the material this week following a fast-tracked tender process.
The decking is being custom-made and will take at least 17 weeks to manufacture.
The decking will be delivered and installed in stages, with at least one side of the Story Bridge footpaths expected to open before the end of the year.
In addition to the new decking, a further $6.2 million is being invested in Story Bridge works over the coming year.
The scheduled works are part of a five-year program of works which started in 2023.
This program includes concrete rehabilitation, repairs to gantry rail connections, bridge railing and stiffening plates and improvements to the bridge’s thematic lighting.
These works are in addition to the nearly $80 million invested since 2019.
The $5 million Story Bridge Restoration Business Case, jointly funded with the Federal Government, will also be completed in 2026.
The business case will develop a staged plan to progressively restore the Story Bridge as required over the next 15 to 20 years.
The Story Bridge is 85 years old and built to last 100 years.
Similar restoration projects have occurred on older bridges around the world.
Expressions of Interest to deliver the business case have now closed.
The Story Bridge Restoration Committee, led by renowned Queenslander Nigel Chamier, found Council had been good stewards of the bridge in the decades since it was handed responsibility for it from the State Government, who undertook the construction.
Council has invested $120 million in maintaining the bridge over the last 20 years.
The latest expert engineering advice found the footpaths should be replace in the next two to five years.
However, out of an abundance of caution, Council this year made the decision to replace the footpaths.
Quotes attributable to Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner:
“The Story Bridge is just like every old Queenslander home, you can keep up maintenance by painting and plugging the leaks but eventually a restoration is inevitable, and you need to replace the roof and redo the stumps.
“This Budget confirms we will continue to undertake essential maintenance on Story Bridge while also planning for its long-term restoration.
“In addition to the ongoing works, we’ve ordered custom-made decking so we can reopen the footpaths as soon as possible.
“We’ll also complete a detailed business case over the coming year so the bridge can be progressively restored on an as-needs basis over the next 15 to 20 years.
“This is a long-term project. The bridge is 85 years old and built to last 100 years, and restoration will ensure it can serve our region another century and much more.
“Once the business case is complete, I’m confident all levels of government will work together on the long-term restoration of the Story Bridge.”
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