The contract for the Centenary Bridge upgrade has been awarded to the Georgiou Group and BMD Constructions in a joint venture that will ease traffic congestion by building three new lanes on the side of Jindalee and remediation of the current bridges.
The upgrade will also entail improvements in the active transport facilities for pedestrians and cyclists accessing the Western Freeway Bikeway or visiting the Jindalee Skate Park.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the contractors and said that work on the Centenary Bridge upgrade will deliver more local jobs and ensure that residents of West Brisbane will be able to go home safer and sooner.
More than 85,000 vehicles cross the bridge every day. Projected modelling revealed that the number of vehicles will increase to 152,000 vehicles per day by 2036.
Photo Credit: TMR Queensland
Now that bridge is closer to construction, State Member for Mount Ommaney Jess Pugh said this is a belated Christmas gift for the community.
“I have advocated for this project since I was elected, as I know how desperately our community wants shovels in the ground,” Ms Pugh said.
“Previous tender submissions came in low, and another even promised to build two new bridges with the funding – both options had to be thoroughly explored to make sure we were getting the best value for taxpayers.
“After consideration, we saw that these tender submissions could not deliver on what was promised. I’m pleased we can now move forward with a reliable, Queensland based joint venture, with over 40 years experience.
“The project will double capacity across the river, as well as improve access to Amazon Place Park while preserving the much-loved Jindalee Skate Park.
“We know how important it is to include safe options for cyclists and footpath users, especially those who travel on two wheels, in a wheelchair, mobility device, or pushing a pram.
“Construction will start next year, and I know locals are just as excited as I am.”
The almost $300-million project, however, received criticisms from the opposition for the delays and the added $50 million cost. The timing of the announcement during the holiday break also prevented public scrutiny.
Plans to upgrade Centenary Bridge are still a bit far from reality, after it has been announced that the three-year project is not expected to commence until 2023, instead of starting in 2022.
Based on the original projected timeline, the project is supposed to commence in 2022 and will be complete by late 2026, weather and construction conditions permitting.
However, Transport Minister Mark Bailey announced that there is an alternate bid being submitted for the project and that thorough due diligence is needed before construction could finally get underway.
The budget for the project has remained at $244 million ($132 million from the Queensland Government and $112 million from the Australian Government), however, planners are still closely monitoring global inflation of construction materials.
Whilst it’s an ‘unfortunate’ situation, Mr Bailey assured it’s not going to be a huge delay which means the upgrades will be built as soon as possible.
Benefits of upgrading the bridge includes improving safety to reduce the frequency and severity of crashes on the Centenary Bridge and increasing capacity to improve travel-time reliability and cater for current and future traffic needs.
Artist’s impression of Centenary bridge (Photo credit: www.tmr.qld.gov.au)
Works for Centenary Motorway’s upgrades include remediation of the existing bridges to create three southbound lanes and a new three-lane bridge travelling northbound.
Active transport facilities will also be upgraded for pedestrians and people who ride bikes, with improved connections to the Western Freeway Bikeway and local destinations, including retention of the Jindalee Skate Park.
“While the Centenary Bridge upgrade does not include dedicated transit lanes, capacity and traffic flow will be improved by providing 3 lanes in each direction over the Brisbane River. This will increase efficiency and travel time reliability for public transport including buses travelling on the Centenary Bridge,” TMR said.
At present, around 85,000 vehicles cross the Centenary Motorway a day. But Transport and Main Roads’ current traffic modelling shows that by 2036, around 152,000 vehicles per day will want to cross the bridge.
Visit Queensland Government’s website for further updates on the project.
Preparations are underway to commence construction on the Centenary Bridge Upgrade project, the first new car bridge to be built over the Brisbane River since 2010.
Following a community consultation held in September 2021 for the proposed design of the bridge,an application has now been lodged for the clearing mangroves and trees at the proposed site.
The clearing will involve around 800 sqm of Queensland bluegums and scattered mangroves. Acquisition of homes in identified areas in Jindalee has also commenced.
A previous study has noted the poor condition of the existing Centenary Bridge and recommendations were made to replace it with a three-lane bridge handling southbound traffic.
Opened in 1964, the last upgrades to the bridge were almost three decades ago when it was duplicated with new southbound lanes.
The planning study for the Centenary Motorway Upgrade identified possible staged upgrades along the Centenary Motorway from Sumners Road, Darra, to Frederick Street, Toowong.
Three temporary floating construction jetties will be used to build the bridges.
To accommodate future increases in traffic loads, the design has allowed space for future expansions. This means future lane widths can be optimised to accommodate more lanes when required.
Photo credit: Department of Transport and Main Road
The main features of the bridge include a new three-lane northbound bridge and changes to the existing north and southbound carriageways to create one southbound bridge. The new southbound bridge will have three lanes and separated active transport facilities.
The Centenary Bridge Upgrade is expected to reduce the frequency and severity of crashes, whilst increasing efficiency and travel time reliability between Brisbane’s western suburbs, local destinations and the CBD.
Tenders for the detailed design for the second Centenary Bridge at Jindalee are now being sought, the Queensland Government announced.
The design should aim to improve traffic flow and ease congestion on the Centenary Motorway. The project, once underway, will also provide jobs through building the needed infrastructure, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said. More than 85,000 cars use the Centenary Bridge daily and numbers are projected to move up to 152,000 by 2036.
Expected to be awarded in the coming weeks, the design tender will include details for a new three-lane northbound bridge, as well as the geotechnical and environmental investigations, and service relocations.
The detailed design is part of the $20 million government allocation meant to fast track a business case and technical investigations for a new river crossing on the Centenary Motorway.
Key upgrades for the area are also making progress, such as the design of the Sumners Road interchange which is expected to have the tender for its construction awarded soon, according to Member for Mt Ommaney – Jess Pugh.
“Residents who travel on the Centenary Motorway know how congested it can get near the bridge and further south at the Sumners Road interchange,” Ms Pugh said.
“These projects will make a real difference for people who travel through western Brisbane because it will ultimately mean less time spent in the car, and more time spent doing what they enjoy.”
Later this year, the community will be given the opportunity to provide feedback on the design for a new Centenary Bridge.
Centenary, as it is known today, consists of several suburbs namely, Jindalee, Mount Ommaney, Jamboree Heights, Middle Park, Westlake, Riverhills, Sumner, Sinnamon Park, and Seventeen Mile Rocks.
Do you know how and why Centenary was formed? Let’s take a look back at the historic past of Centenary and the origins of the names of its suburbs.
Photo credit: cshsoc.org.au
In 1959, Queensland’s Centenary Year, a land developer named Hooker Rex planned the Centenary project. The project was a suburban development proposal that included a number of neighbourhoods with their own services and facilities that are capable of providing for all the needs of its residents.
The development started with the purchase of farmland in 1960. The contract for 1,416 hectare-development was agreed upon by the Council in 1961.
Photo credit: Kgbo/Wikimedia Commons
The Centenary Bridge and Highway were among the most important parts of the development as it provided access to and from the city and the northern suburbs. Officially opened on 14 October 1964, the Centenary Bridge was financed by the developers while the Centenary Highway was built by the Brisbane City Council still at the developers’ expense.
The suburbs and industrial estates that were planned to be a part of the Centenary project were Jindalee, Jamboree Heights, Mount Ommaney, Riverhills, Westlake, Middle Park, and Sumner. Meanwhile, Seventeen Mile Rocks and Sinnamon Park were developed separately.
Photo credit: Facebook/Brisbane Retro
The development was under the management of a public company called the Centenary Estates Limited for six years. In October 1967, the private shareholders were bought out by the Hooker Corporation Limited and the entire project was once again owned by the corporation.
The Establishment of the Centenary Suburbs
Jindalee
Photo credit: Twitter/Property Observer
Jindalee is an Aboriginal word which means “bare hills”. The establishment of the suburb in September 1962 brought the first public transport in the area, a bus going to and from Oxley Station.
Among the earliest establishments in the district were the Jindalee Golf Course, Swimming Pool, Bowls Club and the Looranah St. shopping centre. With its well-established golf course, swimming pool, and sporting facilities, it wasn’t long before Jindalee became a centre for sporting activities.
Jamboree Heights
Jamboree Heights was initially a part of Jindalee. When the Boy Scout held it’s Eighth Australian Pan-Pacific Scout Jamboree in Brisbane, Hooker Centenary provided the site. Later on, the place came to be called Jamboree Heights.
The 50th Anniversary of that historic Jamboree was celebrated in Jamboree Heights in January 2018. During that time, the participants learned more about the first Queensland Jamboree in 1967-1968.
Mount Ommaney is considerably larger than Jindalee and Jamboree Heights. Despite the sloping nature of the terrain in the area, Hooker Centenary was able to develop a number of “Private Courts” in Mount Ommaney in January 1970, a feat considered a first in Australia.
Photo credit: www.mcleodgolf.com.au
Each private court contains approximately seven homes, each with their own private entrance and shared private ownership of internal roads and nature strips.
Mount Ommaney became a prestige homesite that offers excellent views of the mountains and the city.
The suburb is also home to the first women’s golf club in Australia, the McLeod Country Golf Club, which was completed in 1969. The original golf club was comprised of 9 holes and a clubhouse. It was later extended to a full complement of 18 holes in 1971.
Riverhills
Photo credit: realestate.com.au
Riverhills is named for its ideal location offering sweeping panoramic views of the Brisbane River. In January 1973, it was mainly marketed by the developer as a suburb for young people with young families, designed with a cul-de-sac concept that focuses on having a quiet environment with lots of privacy. Many of its streets were named after rivers, lakes, and other waterways of the world.
Westlake
Photo credit: raywhitecentenary.com
Westlake was named by the developers in June 1973 for its nine-hectare freshwater lake. The developers maximised the landscape to give most of its homesites a view of the vast lake.
Sumner
Sumner was named after the Sumner family who had been farmers and landholders in the area. Though the name was originally given to a road, the suburb later adapted the name in 1969.
Seventeen Mile Rocks
Photo credit: Google Street View
The Seventeen Mile Rocks suburb used to include Sinnamon Park in 1975 as it extended farther west. With the development of Sinnamon Park, the boundaries of the suburb changed and currently, part of the Edenbrooke Estate is in Seventeen Mile Rocks and part in Sinnamon Park.
Seventeen Mile Rocks have gone through several developments under different estate developers namely ECOSSE Investments Pty Ltd, BMD Constructions, Baldwin-Riverlands, and Verandah.
Middle Park
Middle Park was strategically named by the developers in July 1976 to reflect its location in the middle of the Centenary Suburbs. The area offers northerly views of the McLeod Country Golf Club.
Sinnamon Park
In 1989, Sinnamon Park was developed originating from the suburb Seventeen Mile Rocks. The new suburb was named after the family of James Sinnamon and Margaret, who were the pioneer European settlers in the area.
Photo credit: monumentaustralia.org.au
Today, Sinnamon Park houses a memorial dedicated to Thomas Macleod to celebrate his historic flights on 22 December 1910.
These are the historical origins of the names of the Centenary Suburbs. To have a deeper grasp on the history of Centenary, visit Centenary Suburbs Historical Society Inc.
