Traffic congestion is a major concern in western Brisbane and one of the suggested solutions is a bridge that will connect Wacol to Bellbowrie.
The bridge is not far from being a reality after new Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner announced it will be one of the five new green bridges planned for Brisbane.
The Bellbowrie green bridge is a potential pedestrian, cycle, or public transport bridge with emergency access to help alleviate the risk of flooding in the area.
“These bridges will accommodate in some cases public transport but they will also accommodate walking and cycling to get people out of their cars, reduce traffic congestion and create a cleaner and greener Brisbane,” Cr Schrinner said.
The new green bridges are estimated to cost at least $550 million, with the council contributing at least two-thirds of the cost. They are scheduled for completion after five to 10 years.
Need for a Wacol to Bellbowrie Bridge
Councillor for the Jamboree Ward Matthew Bourke said the new green bridge will provide the people in Moggill Rd and Bellbowrie access to public transport via the bridge to Wacol train station.
This, in turn, will help remove traffic from Moggill Rd and the western freeway. Moggill Rd, which passes through nine suburbs in the city, is identified as one of the traffic choke points in Brisbane.
At present, locals who travel by bike have their separate path, The Moggill Road Cycle Bridge, which is constructed over Moggill Road where it meets the Western Freeway at Indooroopilly.
It was not the first time that a bridge in Bellbowrie was proposed. In 1999, a study by the Brisbane CIty Council referred to a bridge in the suburb as part of their original suburban development.
In 2015, residents suggested a Bellbowrie to Riverhills connection to encourage more people to leave their car at home and eventually help eliminate traffic congestion in the suburb.
“We are rejoicing that we have finally succeeded in getting all of our levels of government, now federal (as well as state and local) calling for investigation into a river crossing at Bellbowrie,” the Bellbowrie Bridge Advocacy Group shared on Facebook.
