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Inner-city drivers have been warned to plan alternative routes over the summer peak with one of Brisbane’s busiest bridges set to close for three weeks for major resurfacing and maintenance works.
The Story Bridge – which connects drivers from Kangaroo Point to Fortitude Valley and New Farm, and links to the CBD and popular airport routes – will be closed from December 27 to January 18 to allow for resurfacing on the entire southern end of the overpass, and parts of the northern approach.
Structural deck maintenance and waterproofing works are also planned as part of Brisbane City Council’s $110 million “Operation Smooth” initiative, a core promise of the 2026 budget to repair the city’s bitumen.
Alongside the southern approach to the Story Bridge, which runs from the section that goes over Rotherham Street to Holman Street in Kangaroo Point, roads in Albion, Eagle Farm, Hamilton, Ipswich, Logan, Lutwyche, Moggill and Toowong have been earmarked for resurfacing as part of the program.
Keeping on message, council infrastructure chair Ryan Murphy said residents can look forward to “a smoother ride” in the new year.
“A key plank of that investment is resurfacing the southern approach to the Story Bridge,” Murphy said.
“We know closing the Story Bridge will be disruptive and we appreciate the public’s patience while we perform this important work.”
Maintaining access to the Story Bridge has been a pain point for council in recent years, with footpaths either side of the bridge closed last year due to long-standing issues including concrete cancer and rusting support beams.
The city-side footpath reopened on October 3 after seven months, with council confirming a $7 million bill to restore access.
The eastern footpath was reopened to pedestrians and cyclists the following month.
Council said more than $80 million has been invested into the iconic bridge since 2019, including to restore the paths.
The Story Bridge will remain accessible to emergency services during the upcoming closure, and council is working with Translink to minimise impacts to bus services.
Drivers who frequent the bridge are advised to begin considering alternative routes.
Pedestrians, cyclists and scooter riders can continue using the eastern footpath, while the western footpath will be closed during the works to support construction activities.
A detailed business case to map out the Story Bridge’s 20-year renewal in partnership with the state and federal government is under way.
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