Brisbane Could Soon Be Home to Five New Car-Free Green Bridges Across the River

Since opening in 2006, the Eleanor Schonell Bridge has been known as Brisbane's 'green bridge'. That moniker has nothing to do with its colour. Instead, it reflects the fact that, spanning the river to connect Dutton Park and St Lucia's University of Queensland, the roadway is only open to buses, bicycles and pedestrians — but, soon, it won't be the only bridge worthy of the nickname.

First announced earlier this year, and now moving to the community consultation stage, Brisbane City Council is planning to build five new green bridges. They don't have exciting names just yet, but their locations have been revealed. One will connect Kangaroo Point to the CBD, while West End will be home to two, linking to Toowong from Orleigh Park and to St Lucia from the end of Boundary Street. Yet another will span Albion and Newstead at Breakfast Creek, and, well downriver, the last will reach from Bellbowrie to Wacol.

The proposed bridges won't use exactly the same model as Eleanor Schonell Bridge, however. Running from Scott Street over to Alice Street in the city, the Kangaroo Point Pedestrian Bridge will be for cyclists and folks walking on two feet only, as will the bridge over Breakfast Creek at the Kingsford Smith Drive Riverwalk. The remaining three bridges all will cater for walkers, bikes and public transport.

Brisbane City Council

A preliminary business case has also been put together for the Kangaroo Point Pedestrian Bridge, forecasting that the structure could carry up to 5300 trips per weekday — and reduce bus trips by 300, as well as car journeys by 230, each day.

While just when you'll be able to start strolling across it, or the other bridges, hasn't been revealed, you can have your say on the proposed structures. Either head online before Friday, December 6, or attend a community information session between Thursday, November 14 and Tuesday, December 3.

And yes, Brissie already has a few other bridges that are solely dedicated to bikes and pedestrians, including the Goodwill Bridge and the Kurilpa Bridge in the CBD. We sure do love our bridges. The new Neville Bonner Bridge is also currently in the works, connecting South Bank with the Queen's Wharf development, while Indooroopilly has the Jack Pesch Bridge (which runs parallel to the famed Walter Taylor Bridge, aka the bridge with apartments built into it).

For more information about Brisbane City Council's five new proposed green bridges, or to provide your feedback, visit the BCC website.

Top image: A render of the Kangaroo Point Pedestrian Bridge.