Toowong to West End Archives

Toowong to West End Bridge: Brisbane’s Stalled Project Seeks New Momentum

The long-awaited Toowong to West End pedestrian and cycle bridge project may soon see new life, as prospects brighten for the ambitious infrastructure endeavour. The project, which had been stalled, is poised to resume once the infrastructure backing is secured.

Read: Budget Cuts Force Pause on Toowong to West End Green Bridge and Victoria Bridge Project

Brisbane City Council, unable to shoulder the estimated several hundred million dollar cost alone, is turning to higher levels of government for support. The council is preparing a final business case for Infrastructure Australia and eyeing the federal government’s $100 million active transport fund as potential sources of funding.

To put the scale of the project in perspective, a much smaller bridge over Breakfast Creek recently completed at a cost of $60 million. This underscores the significant investment required for the larger West End to Toowong crossing.

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/Flickr

Cr Adrian Schrinner expressed optimism about the project’s future, stating that the council is actively working with Infrastructure Australia on the business case. Federal Labor Senator Anthony Chisholm has confirmed that the council is eligible to apply for funds from the active transport initiative, though he refrained from speculating on the application’s chances of success.

The proposed bridge design, which underwent community consultation from November 2021 to February 2022, garnered strong public support. Key features of the concept include:

A curved single-mast cable-stay design spanning approximately 280 metres, with a 75-metre mast height above water level
Dedicated pathways for pedestrians and cyclists, with a minimum width of 6 metres
A clearance height of 11.4 metres and a 70-metre wide navigation channel
A rest point with seating and viewing opportunities near the bridge mast
Shaded walkways and a new riverside green space at the Toowong landing

Despite the initial enthusiasm, the project was paused following the February 2022 severe flood and weather event, as Brisbane prioritised rebuild and recovery efforts. The ongoing global inflation crisis has further complicated matters, leading to continued postponement to avoid passing additional costs onto residents.

Proposed riverside park and plaza at the Toowong landing (Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/Flickr)

However, there’s renewed hope for the project’s revival. Cr Schrinner believes that the successful completion of other bridge projects, such as the Kangaroo Point and Breakfast Creek bridges, will likely increase public demand for similar infrastructure.

Read: Cameras Installed on Mt Coot-tha Walking Trails Amid Security Concerns

As Brisbane continues to grow and evolve, projects like the Toowong to West End bridge represent a commitment to sustainable urban planning and active transport.

Published 30-July-2024

Local Community Split on Toowong to West End Green Bridge

The proposed Toowong to West End green bridge has received mixed reactions since plans were announced to move forward with the design phase by the end of the year.

Read: Toowong to West End Green Bridge Design Phase to Start Soon

The bridge, aimed at improving cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, would span the Brisbane River connecting Toowong and West End.

Conflicting Views

Although there is robust support on the Toowong side of the river and from cycling advocacy groups, some local organisations have expressed doubts. ParK It, a Toowong community group seeking to preserve riverfront park space, said they were disappointed with the lack of action so far.

West End Green Bridge — Aerial view of the concept design for Toowong to West End bridge (Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/Flickr)

The group said the community urges the Brisbane City Council to promptly proceed with this vital infrastructure through an inclusive process involving the community at each phase. This will help maximise the small remaining greenspace in Toowong and minimise damage to greenspace in West End, the group stated.

On the other side of the river, the West End Community Association has concerns about potential impacts to Cranbrook Place. The association believes that a bridge may not be the best use of funds.

For active transport, infrastructure on Vulture Street should be prioritised first in their view. Solutions are needed that alleviate bottlenecks and save people time, the association stated.

Funding Concerns

Meanwhile, details about funding for the next design phase remain uncertain, despite officials announcing plans to move forward.

Read: Cyclist Sought for Questioning in Five-Year Car Scratching Spree along Sylvan Rd in Toowong

The bridge has an estimated price tag of $190 million. Whilst the Queensland Government has committed $10 million towards planning and development, additional sources for the remaining costs have not been finalised.

Around one third of the funding required for the Toowong to West End bridge, as well as other proposed green bridges, will need to be secured from state and federal government

However, the council said that undertaking detailed design work is crucial before requesting funding from the state and federal governments. They added that completing detailed design work is necessary before seeking funding from the state and federal governments.

Published 20-September-2023

Toowong to West End Green Bridge Design Phase to Start Soon

After being paused to prioritise Brisbane’s flood recovery last year, the proposed Toowong to West End green bridge is set to move into the detailed design phase by the end of 2023.

Read: Steps Taken to Acquire Toowong Green Bridge Landing Site

The Toowong to West End pedestrian and cycle bridge, which would span the Brisbane River connecting the two suburbs, is one of four green bridges proposed by Brisbane City Council. It could support over 5,000 trips per day by 2041 if built.

Toowong to West End Green Bridge rest point with seating and viewing opportunities – Artist’s impression only (Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/Flickr)

According to updates from Council, planning for the bridge had been paused to focus on the city’s flood recovery efforts. But with developers now moving on the former ABC Toowong site, securing the land for the bridge was identified as a priority.

The concept design for the bridge was unveiled in late 2021 and community consultations were undertaken until early 2022. Based on the outcome of the consultations, the concept design received generally positive feedback on the proposed bridge form.

Key features of the proposed bridge

a curved single-mast cable stay bridge form with a length of about 280m and mast height of 75m above water level
a single water-based pier on the Toowong side of the Brisbane River to minimise impacts on river users
dedicated pathways for walkers and riders, with a minimum width of 6m and accessible grades
a bridge clearance height of 11.4 metres, with provision for a 70m wide navigation channel
a rest point and widened pathway (up to 9m) adjacent to the bridge mast with seating and viewing opportunities
shade along the length of the walking path
a new riverside green space at the Toowong landing
a landing at Orleigh Park that minimises impacts on open space and provides a direct connection to the walking and cycling network.

An estimated one third of funding for the Toowong to West End bridge and other planned green bridges needs to come from state and federal governments. Council has yet to apply for state government funding for the Toowong to West End bridge project.

The Council is pushing forward with plans for the Toowong to West End bridge, saying detailed design work is essential before approaching the state and federal governments for funding.

Read: Could Toowong Soon Witness the Rise of Higher Density and Taller Skyscrapers?

So far, only the plans for the Kangaroo Point green bridge and the Breakfast Creek green bridge are progressing. Like the Toowong to West End bridge, The St Lucia to West End green bridge has also been paused to prioritise flood recovery.

Published 31-August-2023

Toowong, St Lucia to West End Green Bridges Confirmed After Overwhelming Support

After a four-month consultation period and more than 4,000 responses from the locals, the locations of the third and fourth green bridges to link West End to Toowong and St Lucia have been confirmed.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said that the bridge from Toowong to West End will have its landing sites at the former ABC property on Coronation Drive and Forbes Street in West End. About 83 percent of the residents agreed to this proposal, whilst 64 percent supported the plan to have a green bridge at Guyatt Park in St Lucia to connect to West End’s Orleigh Park.

Mr Schrinner said that the new owners of the former ABC site, Consolidation Property Group, have been aware of the proposal, which will become part of its upcoming development plans.

Council will soon be working on a detailed business case that will carefully map out the estimates and benefits of the Toowong to West End and St Lucia to West End green bridges, including the funding and time frame for construction.

“We will now proceed to develop business cases for each of these bridges and commence detailed design work. The rise of e-mobility is illustrating just how important major infrastructure like this is to connect communities and reduce our reliance on motor vehicles,” Councillor Ryan Murphy said.

Meanwhile, Council said that the Toowong to West End green bridge will be able to cater to 3,400 trips a day in 10 years. Per the residents’ response, the Toowong site is third on the priority list after the construction of the green bridges in Kangaroo Point and Breakfast Creek. These bridges are earmarked for construction by late 2021 and should be completed in 2023.

Only the fifth bridge’s location has yet to be determined.