Walter Taylor Bridge Archives - Over The Walter Taylor Bridge

Bridging Opinions: Walter Taylor Temporary Closure Reveals Divided Vision for Brisbane’s Future

The Walter Taylor Bridge, a crucial link between Chelmer and Indooroopilly, is set for a temporary closure this month, reigniting discussions about its future.

Read: Walter Taylor Bridge Closes for Maintenance: Chelmer Commuters To Face Detours

As the structure prepares to shut down from September 13 to 30 for maintenance, stakeholders are divided on how to address the growing traffic demands in this bustling corridor.

Michael Kane, head of public policy at RACQ, suggested that traffic modelling indicates a need for bridge duplication by 2041, if not sooner.

Walter Taylor — Photo credit: Peter Kaye/Google Maps

Mr Kane acknowledged that such a project would be complex and costly for the council, and given its local nature and competing priorities, substantial state or federal funding seems unlikely. He advocates for more detailed modelling to refine traffic forecasts and potential upgrade timelines.

Former transport minister Mark Bailey argued for a more urgent approach. He contends that a replacement bridge is needed much sooner than 2041, describing the current structure as one of Brisbane’s worst bottlenecks due to its single lane connecting the inner city to the Centenary suburbs.

Despite these calls for action, plans for duplication have stalled. Cr Andrew Wines, the council’s civic cabinet chair for infrastructure, attributes this to a lack of support from state and federal governments. In response, Transport Minister Bart Mellish stated that the responsibility for the bridge’s future lies with the local government, as it is a council asset.

Alternative solutions are also being proposed. Greens MP Michael Berkman suggests reopening the Tennyson rail line as a potential alternative to a new river crossing.

Meanwhile, Cr Nicole Johnston advocates for a more comprehensive approach, proposing an extension of the City Cat ferry service further upriver to provide an alternative transport option for university students and others.

Read: Bridge Strike Causes Major Delays for Corinda Rail and Bus Commuters

With stakeholders divided and funding uncertain, the future of this vital river crossing remains unclear. As the city evolves, finding a solution that satisfies all parties while meeting the area’s long-term needs will be crucial to keeping Brisbane moving forward.

Published 3-September-2024

Walter Taylor Bridge Closes for Maintenance: Chelmer Commuters To Face Detours

Walter Taylor Bridge, a crucial link between the suburbs of Indooroopilly and Chelmer, is set for a complete closure lasting two weeks.

Read: Bridge Strike Causes Major Delays for Corinda Rail and Bus Commuters

The shutdown, announced with only one month’s notice, is scheduled to begin at 9:00 p.m. on September 13 and continue until 5:00 a.m. on 30 September 2024. This closure is part of essential maintenance work on the 90-year-old structure.

About the Walter Taylor Bridge Road Resurfacing

The maintenance project is comprehensive, involving full removal and replacement of road asphalt, concrete repairs to the bridge deck, waterproofing, and steel node maintenance. The work will require the use of heavy machinery and power tools, which is likely to cause noise, dust, and increased vehicle movements in the area.

The heritage-listed bridge, which serves over 35,000 users daily, plays a critical role in Brisbane’s traffic flow. Its closure is expected to cause significant disruption, forcing motorists to take substantial detours or switch to public transportation. The only vehicles permitted to cross during this period will be emergency vehicles under six tonnes and those no wider than 2m, using the adjacent Jack Pesch cycle and pedestrian link.

Local road closures

Road detour map – Walter Taylor Bridge resurfacing works (Photo credit: Brisbane City Council)

Local road closures will accompany the bridge shutdown. In Chelmer, Wharf Street between Rosebury Terrace and Honour Avenue will be closed, as will the northbound lane of Honour Avenue from Bridge Street onwards. The official detour route will direct traffic via Oxley Road, Seventeen Mile Rocks Road, and Centenary Highway.

Brisbane City Council has assured residents that measures will be in place to manage the changed traffic conditions, including police presence, traffic control, and signage. However, the short notice and extensive nature of the closure have raised concerns among local residents and businesses about potential disruptions.

Commuters are advised to plan their journeys in advance using the QLDTraffic app or website, or by calling 13 19 40 for up-to-date information. While the closure will undoubtedly cause inconvenience, the maintenance work is crucial for ensuring the longevity and safety of this important piece of Brisbane’s infrastructure.

Read: Uncharted Waters: The Top 10 Moments of John Oxley’s Historic 1823 Expedition to the Brisbane River

As the Walter Taylor Bridge approaches its centenary, this maintenance project underscores the ongoing challenges of maintaining ageing infrastructure in growing urban areas. The temporary pain of closure is balanced against the long-term gain of preserving a vital transport link for future generations of Brisbane residents.

Published 12-August-2024

Walter Taylor Bridge: Revisiting the History of Southern Hemisphere’s Only Habitable Bridge

Photo credit: By Kgbo - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=83300824

Have you ever imagined what it is like to live inside the only habitable bridge in the Southern Hemisphere? Opened on Valentine’s Day 1936, the Walter Taylor Bridge is not only rich in history but stories from the people who have once lived inside the bridge’s pylons.

Formerly known as the Indooroopilly Toll Bridge, the Walter Taylor Bridge was constructed using some of the cables made from the leftover wire rope that was also used to build the Sydney Harbour.

It was built and designed by Walter Taylor after locals clamoured for a means by which cars could cross the bridge from Chelmer to Indooroopilly. Before it was opened to the public, the only way to cross the river was through a pedestrian bridge or via a ferry service.

When it opened in 1936, the bridge was operated by Indooroopilly Toll Bridge Limited with the primary toll fee costing sixpence until it was removed in 1965. The first toll collectors, toll master Morton John Green and bridge toll-keeper George MacDougal were the original residents of the bridge.

Mort Green, lived in the Indooroopilly pylon whilst George and his wife lived on the Chelmer side. George’s son also worked shifts as a toll collector. Morton’s brother, William Green was Chair of the Board of Directors of the Indooroopilly Toll Bridge Pty Ltd.

The Greens lived in the apartment for 75 years. Meanwhile, the Chelmer side of the bridge was rented to university students from the 70s through the 80s.

Did you know that one of the last dwellers on the bridge was a 300-kg man who due to his medical condition had to be moved out of the apartment using a crane?

The 57-year-old man who was identified as a descendant of the Mort Green suffered from an asthma attack. Since it was impossible to move him out of the premises using just a stretcher, a window had to be cut to get him out of the room and put him onto a crane.

Another story that many may not have heard of was a time when a drunk university student climbed the bridge and went to the top of the pile and then to the Indooroopilly side of the bridge only to find himself too scared to get down. Thankfully, the police who responded to the call were able to get him down to safety.

The bridge was renamed Walter Taylor Bridge in 1956 to honour Walter Taylor’s memory following his death in 1955.

Brisbane City Council acquired the dwellings in 1965 and the Indooroopilly pylon was opened for public viewing in 2013.

Walter Taylor Bridge: Among Brisbane Bridges With Most Crash Reports

The Walter Taylor Bridge is one of Australia’s most unique bridges with its heritage-listed pylon and scenic river views. However, one must keep his eyes on the road whilst cruising along this historic bridge, as latest insurance claims data reveals that it ranks among Brisbane bridges with most crashes.

Between 1 January 2015 and 31 October 2018, insurance claims records show that there have been 10 crash reports on the Walter Taylor Bridge, the State’s peak motoring body, RACQ reported. Whilst this number pales in comparison to the top-ranked Story Bridge’s recorded 36 crashes, drivers are urged to “slow down and take care merging.”

*Photo Credit: Kgbo [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons*

“These bridges are often heavily congested, high volume, multi-lane crossings, making them hot spots for multi-vehicle crashes,” RACQ spokesperson Lucinda Ross said.

“Most are peak hour rear-end collisions, or sideswipes where drivers fail to give way changing lanes. Drivers need to take care merging and leave plenty of room between cars,” she said.

Captain Cook Bridge came second to Story Bridge with 29 crashes, followed by Gateway Bridge with 14, William Jolly Bridge with 11. Go Between Bridge rounds out the top six with 4 reported vehicle crashes.

Ms Ross suggested that apart from public transport, the government also needs to invest on projects that will provide alternative routes to minimise congestions and offer vehicle access to and from Brisbane City such as upgrading Roma Street, North Quay, Stanley, and Vulture streets.

Maintenance of Walter Taylor Bridge & Other City Structures Goes High-Tech

Brisbane City Council may soon introduce a modernised way of maintaining the city’s bridges, walls, and tunnels. That includes the iconic Walter Taylor Bridge.

A quick overview

Brisbane has 1,028 bridges, seven cross-river bridges, 1,014 retaining walls and 23 tunnels. Imagine the upkeep of all these places; pretty tedious, right? Council senior engineer Isaac Scott has proposed a hi-tech way for the upkeep of these places.

Laser beams, Drones & Robots

Drones are already being used by the council as part of their bridge maintenance. A drone was used to inspect the Walter Taylor Bridge for inspection. It is also included in Chelmer’s bridge maintenance.

The Council is also taking a look at Germany’s CleanLASER, which was already tested on the Story Bridge. They are looking at the use of this laser as an alternative to abrasive blasting with a few tweaks. The laser beam dislodges the paint system, rust, bird droppings and other elements on the structure.

CleanLASER uses a combination of laser and heavy duty vacuum that makes it safer and cleaner than abrasive blasting.

Robots are also being considered to deliver the blasting work on bridges and for the simple inspection of small areas.

With this technology, the city may be looking at a significant increase in efficiency when it comes to the upkeep of these structures, should everything work out perfectly. As of now, the future seems bright for the city, given the promising results from the various technologies that have been tested.

Fix Indooroopilly Roundabout First Before Building Walter Taylor Bridge 2

Before a second Walter Taylor Bridge is built, the congestion at the Indooroopilly roundabout must first be addressed. This is the reaction of Councillor Julian Simmonds (Walter Taylor) after a #Taylor2 campaign was launched recently by Labor MP for Yeerongpilly Mark Bailey.

Some 100 people gathered at Graceville to voice out their demand for a secondary Walter Taylor bridge to handle the growing volume of traffic in the area.

Read: Government Urged to Build Second Walter Taylor Bridge

Cr Simmonds maintained that constructing the duplicate Walter Taylor Bridge without fixing the Indooroopilly roundabout would only create a bigger bottleneck. He said that the council is already in the process of providing a solution for the heavy traffic in the one-lane Walter Taylor Bridge.

An integral part of resolving the traffic issue is the acquisition of the Witton Barracks site from the Department of Defence in 2015. The rehabilitation and development of the old Witton Barracks is a prerequisite to the duplication of the bridge.

Cr Simmonds explained that planning did not commence earlier because they first needed to get hold of the Witton Barracks location. The councillor is currently consulting residents to aid them in coming up with a draft plan of turning the former barracks area into a public park.

The council has also started to transform the Indooroopilly roundabout into a T-intersection to improve its traffic capacity. Cr Simmonds believes that completing this upgrade is needed to avoid worse congestion when eventually the duplicate Walter Taylor bridge is built.

Government Urged to Build Second Walter Taylor Bridge

It has been planned for years, but the upgrade for Walter Taylor Bridge still needs to become a reality. As the bridge continues to cause bottlenecks during the peak hours of the day, some residents are putting pressure on the government to address worsening traffic situation in the area.

Protesters will be gathering on Saturday, 5 August at Nadine St Park in Graceville to call for action on people’s request to build a duplicate Walter Taylor Bridge.

Leading the rally is State MP for Yeerongpilly Mark Bailey. Mr Bailey has been vocal on social media, expressing his dismay at how Walter Taylor Bridge was ignored in the last budget.

Mr Bailey hit Brisbane City Council for allocating $650 million to expand Kingsford-Smith Drive from two lanes to three lanes, while not funding the upgrade of one-lane Walter Taylor Bridge.

He also launched an online petition at http://fight4qld.org/taylor2bridgenow and a Facebook page dedicated to the campaign.

Support for Walter Taylor Bridge 2

A second Walter Taylor Bridge connecting Indooroopilly and Chelmer has been proposed for years ago. It involves the construction of a duplicate bridge immediately downstream of the pedestrian and bicycle bridge. The second bridge could provide one lane in both directions or focus on southbound traffic, while the existing bridge will be for northbound traffic.

In a recent survey by Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ), the duplication of the Walter Taylor Bridge received strong support from respondents.

According to the RACQ survey, 65 percent of respondents supported the plan to construct a duplicate Walter Taylor Bridge, while 24.2 percent were neutral about the idea and 10.8 percent were against the proposal.