Go between bridge

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Go Between Bridge opening revealed

Go Between Bridge opening revealed
TONY MOORE
June 24, 2010 - 7:23AM

The Go Between Bridge is not expected to cover costs early in its lifetime.

The Go Between Bridge will open early next month.

Brisbane's first inner-city traffic bridge in 40 years, the Go Between Bridge, will be open to traffic on July 5 or 6, it was revealed last night.

Go-Betweens singer-songwriter Robert Forster will perform the "official opening" honours on Sunday, July 4, Lord Mayor Campbell Newman confirmed.

"Robert Forster from the Go-Betweens will be opening the bridge during the festivities on the community open day," he said.

The bridge between Milton and South Brisbane will most likely be opened to traffic in the early hours of the following Monday or Tuesday.

The Clem7 tunnel opened in stages between 10pm late on Monday, March 15 and early the following morning.

Meanwhile, Brisbane City Council appears unlikely to change the name of the bridge to the "Go-Betweens Bridge" to accurately record the name of the Brisbane band it honours - hyphenated and plural, not singular.

A Facebook page calling for the name change last night had more than 1060 supporters, however a spokesman for Cr Newman said there would be no alteration.

Group members say future readers will forget about the geographical link and think the band's name was misspelt.

The name "Go Between Bridge" was the clear winner in a September 2009 bridge naming competition, in which 5000 people voted.

The name recognised both the Go-Betweens, formed by Brisbane uni students Forster and the late Grant McLennan in 1978, and the link between Milton and South Brisbane, as a "go between".

In September, Cr Newman described the name as working on two levels.

"The people have spoken and I think it's a fitting tribute to a band that helped put Brisbane's music industry on the map," Cr Newman said.

"And it's a name that works on two levels - not only does it honour one of Brisbane's most treasured musical exports - it also connects Milton and South Brisbane."

A spokesman for the Lord Mayor said last night while they understood the emotions of the band's fans, but would not be changing the name of the bridge.

Forster was approached for comment, by the was last night rehearsing for this Friday's concert on the new bridge and could not be contacted.

However, in an interview last week with music writer Sean Sennett in Tom Magazine, he said he did not feel the name needed to be changed.

"I think what's happened is there was a vote [between candidates], the votes were counted and the judgement was read and the bridge is being constructed and I think it proceeded under that line of thought," he said.

"Suddenly, to go at the end, 'let's add a letter' would be trying to impose on a process that's already being going for a certain while."

But Forster said he appreciated the groundswell of support to change the name.

"At the same time, I'm outside of that and I'm happy with the way things are," he said.

[ozbob]

Web site for Go Between Bridge --> http://bridge.mipo.jsadigital.com.au/

Cycling

Go Between Bridge has a free, dedicated 3.6 metre wide cycle path on the western (Toowong) side of the bridge, which will be open to cyclists when the bridge opens in July 2010.

The path offers cyclists effective links between existing cycle paths along Riverside Drive and Montague Road in South Brisbane and West End, and the Bicentennial Bikeway in Milton.

As part of the Go Between Bridge project there has been significant upgrades to a 200 metre section the Bicentennial Bikeway, from the Cribb Street underpass to the Merivale Rail Bridge. Once completed, this section of the bikeway will be more than five metres wide and have separately marked areas for pedestrians and cyclists.

Walking

Go Between Bridge has a free, dedicated 3.6 metre wide pedestrian path on the eastern (City) side of the bridge, which will be open to pedestrians when the bridge opens in July 2010.

The path offers pedestrians effective links between existing paths in South Brisbane and Milton.

The pedestrian path is constructed so the slope is accessible for all levels of mobility, with a shade canopy, lighting and ramps at each end.

As part of the Go Between Bridge project there has been significant upgrades to a 200 metre section the Bicentennial Bikeway, from the Cribb Street underpass to the Merivale Rail Bridge. Once completed, this section of the bikeway will be more than five metres wide and have separately marked areas for pedestrians and cyclists.

[stephenk]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Go Between Bridge opening revealed

Go Between Bridge opening revealed
TONY MOORE
June 24, 2010 - 7:23AM

The Go Between Bridge is not expected to cover costs early in its lifetime.

The Go Between Bridge will open early next month.

Brisbane's first inner-city traffic bridge in 40 years, the Go Between Bridge, will be open to traffic on July 5 or 6, it was revealed last night.

Go-Betweens singer-songwriter Robert Forster will perform the "official opening" honours on Sunday, July 4, Lord Mayor Campbell Newman confirmed.

"Robert Forster from the Go-Betweens will be opening the bridge during the festivities on the community open day," he said.

The bridge between Milton and South Brisbane will most likely be opened to traffic in the early hours of the following Monday or Tuesday.

The Clem7 tunnel opened in stages between 10pm late on Monday, March 15 and early the following morning.

Meanwhile, Brisbane City Council appears unlikely to change the name of the bridge to the "Go-Betweens Bridge" to accurately record the name of the Brisbane band it honours - hyphenated and plural, not singular.

A Facebook page calling for the name change last night had more than 1060 supporters, however a spokesman for Cr Newman said there would be no alteration.

Group members say future readers will forget about the geographical link and think the band's name was misspelt.

The name "Go Between Bridge" was the clear winner in a September 2009 bridge naming competition, in which 5000 people voted.

The name recognised both the Go-Betweens, formed by Brisbane uni students Forster and the late Grant McLennan in 1978, and the link between Milton and South Brisbane, as a "go between".

In September, Cr Newman described the name as working on two levels.

"The people have spoken and I think it's a fitting tribute to a band that helped put Brisbane's music industry on the map," Cr Newman said.

"And it's a name that works on two levels - not only does it honour one of Brisbane's most treasured musical exports - it also connects Milton and South Brisbane."

A spokesman for the Lord Mayor said last night while they understood the emotions of the band's fans, but would not be changing the name of the bridge.

Forster was approached for comment, by the was last night rehearsing for this Friday's concert on the new bridge and could not be contacted.

However, in an interview last week with music writer Sean Sennett in Tom Magazine, he said he did not feel the name needed to be changed.

"I think what's happened is there was a vote [between candidates], the votes were counted and the judgement was read and the bridge is being constructed and I think it proceeded under that line of thought," he said.

"Suddenly, to go at the end, 'let's add a letter' would be trying to impose on a process that's already being going for a certain while."

But Forster said he appreciated the groundswell of support to change the name.

"At the same time, I'm outside of that and I'm happy with the way things are," he said.

Surely the name should be changed to "White Elephant Bridge"?

[Jon Bryant]

My crystal ball (which was accurate on the Clem 7 fortunes) predicts the bridge is very popular with cyclist and pedestrians but will never make a profit.

[O_128]

at least it has the bike paths etc, but the blue paneling on the city side is not being duplicated on the Milton side quite sad really.

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Go-Between bridge to open July 5 to help ease traffic woes

Go-Between bridge to open July 5 to help ease traffic woes

    * by Ursula Heger
    * From: The Courier-Mail
    * June 25, 2010 11:00PM

THE $328 million Go Between Bridge - the first inner-city traffic bridge to be built in Brisbane in decades - will open to traffic in nine days' time.

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman revealed on Friday afternoon the Go Between Bridge would begin operating in the early hours of July 5.

The bridge, which links South Brisbane and Milton, is expected to slash travel times in the inner-city region and is expected to carry 12,800 cars every weekday.

Motorists will be enticed to use the bridge with discounted tolls of $1.50 each way until the end of the year, followed by a six-month period of $2 tolls.

The full toll of $2.35 will be introduced in mid-2011.

Cr Newman said he would open the bridge to traffic, but didn't expect to see thousands of eager motorists like those that packed the streets near the Clem7 on its opening day.

"The new Go Between Bridge will relieve traffic congestion around the CBD and provide better access to some of Brisbane's most popular education, recreation and cultural precincts," he said.

"The bridge will also provide a crucial link between the cultural hub of South Brisbane and West End and the sporting precinct around Suncorp Stadium."

It will be the first road project to open since the Clem7, which has failed to meet its operator's target of 60,000 cars a day in its first three months of operation.

The Go Between Bridge, one of Cr Newman's TransApex projects, will cost $30.4 million to run in its first year of operation despite only $8.9 million expected from tolling revenue.

Budget documents released this month show the bridge is only expected to make $50 million in its first four years from tolling revenue.

Construction on the third TransApex tunnel, the Northern Link project connecting Toowong and Kelvin Grove, is expected to start by the end of the year.

Cr Newman said the bridge would be opened in the early hours of the morning, expected to be between 2am and 5am.

He said the Go Between Bridge was the only CBD bridge to provide dedicated pedestrian and cycleways.

[somebody]

Council election isn't until 2012.  Maybe the Northern link is unstoppable.  If Campbell Newman doesn't build it, he's open to the charge that he broke his election promise.

[#Metro]

Lets get an XBL (exclusive bus lane) back on Coronation drive. Even if it is only during peak hour.
It is one of the widest roads in Brisbane, so don't tell me that there is no space.

[Jon Bryant]

Council election isn't until 2012.  Maybe the Northern link is unstoppable.  If Campbell Newman doesn't build it, he's open to the charge that he broke his election promise.

He has broken every promise he made on TransApex including that it would fix traffic congestion.

[somebody]

Council election isn't until 2012.  Maybe the Northern link is unstoppable.  If Campbell Newman doesn't build it, he's open to the charge that he broke his election promise.

He has broken every promise he made on TransApex including that it would fix traffic congestion.

Are you referring to the promises about it being affordable?

On an unrelated matter, I logged a TL feedback issue regarding buses using this bridge.  Response was that they can't comment.

[Jon Bryant]

Plus the total cost to tax layers which was next to nothing and is now 770 million for Clem7
Plus the solution to all our traffic problems.
Plus
Plus

[somebody]

I only see allegedly two broken promises:
It's affordable
It's the solution

I do not see that the majority of Brisbanites think that TransApex is anything but an awesome idea, hence I believe the Northern Link to be unstoppable.

[Jon Bryant]

If Clem7 goes belly up the Nothern Link is dead in the water and the Airport Link will be junk stock.

[somebody]

If Clem7 goes belly up the Nothern Link is dead in the water and the Airport Link will be junk stock.

I'm not so sure.  People have already lost a lot of money on the Airport Link, so they will not be able to raise money on the stock market, but I cannot see what will stop them from going it alone like they did on the Go Between Bridge.

[mufreight]

More likely if they go belly up the Government will be left with the mess to clean up and the taxpayers will pay for it.
The key difference between private ownership of public infrastructure and government ownership is the profit factor that the private operator/owner has to make to survive while with any infrastructure under government ownership and operation a profit (unlikely) cover costs (satisfactory) loss well the government is elected to provide public infrastructure so reasonable losses are acceptable.

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Go Between Bridge opens in test of motorists' willingness to pay toll

Go Between Bridge opens in test of motorists' willingness to pay toll

    * From: The Courier-Mail
    * July 05, 2010 12:00AM

FORGET about the missing letter, today begins the debate on numbers as the Go Between Bridge opens for business.

This morning, the first cars drove across Brisbane's latest river crossing, paying a toll of $1.50 for the 300m journey.

Thousands of people took the opportunity of yesterday's market day to stroll across the bridge made from 1000 tonnes of steel and 5300 cubic metres of concrete and paid for by a toll that will jump to $2 in December and $2.35 (plus the CPI) next July.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman described yesterday as "a very historic day".

"It's 40 years since the last inner-city general traffic bridge was opened," Cr Newman said.

"It's also a thrill to have it named after a band who really put Brisbane on the map musically. I'm sure it will take time to build up, that's obviously the case with any new piece of infrastructure, whether it's toll or not.

"I would hope in probably two months' time we will be seeing a steady 12,800 vehicles a day using the bridge. That's what we've projected and I hope that we achieve that in the first couple of months."

Cr Newman said Brisbane motorists started this year with a choice of 32 general traffic lanes to cross the river. With the opening of the new Gateway Bridge, the Clem 7 tunnel and now the Go Between Bridge, there were now 46 lanes linking the city.

The Lord Mayor dismissed objections from those who said Brisbane's new toll crossings were putting a further burden on local businesses, arguing that people could choose to pay for the bridge crossing that could save them up to 15 minutes in peak time.

"We made a commitment a long, long time ago that we wouldn't shut down existing free roads, toll them or funnel people on to this tolled infrastructure," he said. "People have a choice. They can use the free roads that are there or they can take the opportunity to get the savings from this new infrastructure."

Robert Forster, co-founder of The Go-Betweens, yesterday described the new link between Milton and South Brisbane as "a beautiful bridge".

"It's a great honour," he said. "That a band from this town can have a bridge named after them, I think, is incredible."

Mr Forster played down concerns that the new link was missing a letter, as well as a hyphen, having transformed The Go-Betweens to Go Between.

"We got nine letters. We lost the S, we couldn't get all 10," he said. "We're happy with nine. It's what the people voted for. That was on the ballot paper."

[Mozz]

Cycled across the bridge this morning in the early hours - pedestrian walkway is on the eastern side of the bridge and the cycleway is on the western side. Traffic situation on the west end side will need some tweaking - traffic lights are currently sequenced with high priority to traffic exiting off the bridge causing a bit of chaos for the cross roads intersection at this juncture.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes Ready, set, go: new bridge opens click --> here!

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Go Between Bridge junction creates traffic bottlenecks on busy roads

Go Between Bridge junction creates traffic bottlenecks on busy roads

    * by Ursula Heger
    * From: The Courier-Mail
    * September 29, 2010 12:00AM

AFTERNOON congestion on one of Brisbane's biggest roads has more than doubled since the opening of the $328 million Go Between Bridge, new travel time data shows.

Figures show motorists trying to reach the inner-northern suburbs from the Inner City Bypass are sitting in traffic for six minutes longer in afternoon traffic since the Go Between Bridge opened because turning lanes into Coronation Drive have been cut and the lane shortened.

A recent travel time survey showed motorists are taking 12 minutes to travel from the Inner City Bypass at Herston to Coronation Drive at Park Rd in the afternoon peak. That compares to just five minutes and 45 seconds before the bridge was opened.

But travel times dropped in the morning peak from about 12 minutes to just seven minutes, which Brisbane City Council attributes to more motorists using the Clem7 route.

The council had proposed to install an underpass instead of the turning lanes, but dropped the plans after the State Government refused to permit 50-minute delays during construction.

Deputy Mayor Graham Quirk admitted little could be done to help motorists using the area in their daily commutes.

"There is not a lot we can do, we can do a tweaking of the timing but to be honest that's what it would be because we can't extend the slip lane any more than we currently have. And if we do, we would be robbing the Coronation Drive major through-road into the city in the process," he said.

If the underpass were installed, council predicts the same trip between the ICB at Herston and the Park Rd intersection of Coronation Drive would have been an estimated trip of four minutes 28 seconds.

Cr Quirk said Brisbane was left with "not the perfect scheme", blaming the State Government for blocking the planned underpass.

But a spokesman for Transport and Main Roads said council was merely told to reduce traffic delays during construction, and other options could have been considered.

"Our concern was with a Brisbane City Council plan that, by their own admission, would have shut traffic in the middle of the city down for 50 minutes every morning and 50 minutes every afternoon for more than a year," he said. "A construction and traffic management plan that didn't result in 50 minutes of council-imposed traffic gridlock every morning and every afternoon for more than a year would have been viewed much more favourably."

Motoring body RACQ said motorists have been left with "the worst of both worlds".

Another failure? 

[somebody]

I seriously doubt that you could have done Herston -> Coro/Park Rd in 5 minutes 45 seconds during construction of the bridge.  I think they are referring to the situation before the bridge, which was that there were 2 lanes making the turn, but traffic lights for outbound traffic on Coro.  This has been a net gain for traffic.

[O_128]

people seem to forget that public transport really isn't councils problem, sure they run the bus system but they really arent and shouldn't be obligated to build busways etc heck they shouldn't even have to be building tunnels and roads and bridges this is all state government issues. So next time you complain forward an email to your state member asking why the council is being forced to build state government infrastructure