The Breakfast Creek Green Bridge has hit a major construction milestone with the arrival of the 300-tonne steel arch on-site.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said installing the pre-assembled arch would bring the project to 90 per cent completion.
“Over the past 11 months, the steel arch bridge has been assembled locally at the Port of Brisbane and has now been transported by barge down the Brisbane River ready for installation,” Cr Schrinner said.
“Specialist machinery will now carefully lift the 80-metre arch bridge into place.
“Around 300 tonnes of steel, the equivalent to seven double-decker CityCats, was used to construct the bridge, which will sit 14 metres high and is six metres wide.
“Around 600 local workers and more than 70,000 work hours have been completed on this project to date.
“More than 95 per cent of the workforce are based in Brisbane and South-East Queensland, with 90 per cent of supplies used on the project from local businesses.
“Equipment such as cranes and barges were mostly supplied by local businesses, including the barge Leanora, which Council previously used on other city-shaping projects including the Go Between Bridge and Indooroopilly Riverwalk.”
Brisbane Civic Cabinet Chair for Transport Ryan Murphy said the bridge would provide a safer and more accessible walking and riding connection over Breakfast Creek.
“This connection is a critical transport link between the inner city and our growing northern suburbs,” Cr Murphy said.
“This project delivers around 700 metres of new and improved walking and riding paths, including an extension to the Lores Bonney Riverwalk and a new two-way on-road cycle path from Newstead Park to Newstead Terrace.
“This is a vital piece of infrastructure that will meet the needs of our growing city and encourage residents to leave their cars at home.
“It will also play a major role during the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, providing a key connection to the athletes’ village at Northshore Hamilton and the planned Breakfast Creek Sports Precinct.”
Hamilton Ward Councillor Julia Dixon said the arrival of the bridge span showed major progress in the project.
“I know local residents are really excited about this fantastic new bridge across Breakfast Creek and all the opportunities it will deliver for active travel,” Cr Dixon said.
“With the installation of the bridge arch, residents will now be able to see the project really coming together.
“The span has been painted to resemble the leaves of the native fig trees and is an incredible centrepiece of the project.
“Since the Kingsford Smith Drive Upgrade, the Lores Bonney Riverwalk has just been so popular and this bridge will mean people can travel easily continue their journey across the bridge instead of on the existing narrow footpath.”
Final works on the bridge will now be completed and include concrete pours for the bridge deck, balustrade installation, electrical and lighting installation, and finishing works such as line marking and signage.
The bridge is expected to open in early 2024, weather and construction conditions permitting.
For more information, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au.
Head to www.adrianschrinner.com.au/brisbane-news to keep up to date with what’s happening in Brisbane.
