Council’s Plan To Close On-Ramp To Pacific Motorway For Woolloongabba Bikeway Project Gets Negative Feedback

Following the horrific death of a cyclist in 2014 at the corner of Stanley Street and Annerley Road, the Brisbane City Council has proposed a plan to close an on-ramp that leads to the Pacific Motorway to accommodate a new bikeway. However, not everyone agrees with the council’s proposal.

The plan is to close the slip lane to the southbound on-ramp to the motorway along Stanley St and this also involves the removal of over 70 on-street car park spaces as part of its design for the Woolloongabba Bikeway.

However, Transport and Main Roads (TMR) Minister Mark Bailey along with Deputy Premier Jackie Trad have rejected the proposal. Nonetheless, TMR is willing to work with the council to come up with a solution that both parties can agree on.

Local businesses are also speaking up despite agreeing with the council’s plan having found out that their establishments will be affected leaving them with no space for vehicles to safely stop by.

The Lady Cilento Children’s and Mater Hospitals are also complaining about the loss of car park spaces for the staff and the patients to make way for the Woolloongabba Bikeway.

Despite the complaints, it looks like the council remains firm on their plan. Their aim is to provide safe cycling options to the city and since the motorway slip road is managed by the State Government, their approval is the most significant. Also, after considering several options, the council finds that removal of the left-turn slip lane will provide the safest route for cyclists by minimising potential conflict points between cyclists, motorists, and pedestrians.

The project is part of the council’s Better Bikeways for Brisbane program with a $100 million investment. It aims to extend along Stanley St, between Ipswich Rd in Woolloongabba, and Dock St in South Brisbane and along Annerley Rd between Stanley St, Woolloongabba, and Gladstone Rd in Dutton Park.

The bikeway project will start in late 2018 and will be completed by mid-2019.