The Brisbane Labor Opposition is calling the closure of the Story Bridge announced yesterday by Brisbane’s LNP Council a ‘plan to fail’.
On Sunday, Council announced that the Story Bridge will be closed for an unprecedented three weeks as part of the “Operation Smooth” road resurfacing program announced in the June budget.
Council claims the $110 million spend across the program is a ‘record’ but compared with a similar program announced ten years ago, was found to be a cut of about $20 million when adjusted in real terms.
A representative of the Lord Mayor in Council claimed that about $14 million from the package will be spent on these works.
The representative confirmed that Council had ruled out any toll relief during the closure, despite toll waivers being used in years past.
“In typical LNP Council fashion, Brisbane residents will be paying the price for Council’s neglect of our Story Bridge.”
“There is precedent for Transurban waving tolls during maintenance periods, even just for a few days. This LNP Council under Adrian Schrinner hasn’t even bothered to ask Transurban or the LNP State Government for support.”
“The Story Bridge is a major artery at the heart of our city now on life support due to two decades of decline under this LNP Council. Our city deserves better.”
A $3.65 billion business case for the renewal of the bridge is underway and expected to be completed later this year. Council has already spent almost half a million dollars promoting the business case.
$7 million has been spent on temporary decking over the old footpaths and $1 million on blue netting to catch crumbling chunks of concrete.
