Span across the water: City’s next river crossing reaches construction milestone
Brisbane’s next river crossing, the Neville Bonner Bridge linking South Bank with the $3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf development, now stretches completely from bank to bank after the final deck section was laid.
An artists impression of what the Neville Bonner Bridge will look like mid-span when completed. (Image: Star Entertainment)
Described as a project “touchdown” by Queensland Wharf operator and casino giant Star Entertainment, the last section was manoeuvred into place a few hours before dawn on Monday morning.
Project developers, the Destination Brisbane consortium, confirmed the section, weighing about 20 tonnes, was the final deck piece for the $320 metre structure.
However, there is a way to go before the bridge will welcome its first pedestrians, with concrete finishes, paving and lighting. The structure won’t open until around Christmas.
‘The construction of the Neville Bonner Bridge is an engineering feat masterfully bringing design and technology together,” project chief Simon Crooks said.
Named after Australia’s first federal Indigenous parliamentarian, the Neville Bonner Bridge will send pedestrians from South Bank directly into the Queens Wharf development’s myriad of restaurants and retail shops, as well as its planned =new casino.
“The unique and elegant design of the sweeping bridge mast, which peaks at more than 75 metres above the river – the same height as the Storey Bridge, has already proven to be an iconic addition to the Brisbane skyline,” Star chief executive Robbie Cooke said.
“We have forecast 10,000 pedestrian crossings a day when it opens to the public as part of the precinct’s staged opening later this year,” he said.
