Gresham Street Bridge replacement project - Ashgrove

Brisbane City Council has replaced the Gresham Street bridge in Ashgrove to improve safety and connectivity for motorists and people walking and riding.  

Summary table for the Gresham Street Bridge Replacement project
Address Gresham Street, Ashgrove
Ward The Gap
Project outcomes Replace existing bridge crossing to ensure safety and local access.
Latest update

Project complete

Download the project documents

About the project

Constructed in 1931, the previous Gresham Street bridge was a two-lane timber bridge with narrow pedestrian pathways. Vehicle access was restricted to 22.5 tonne which limited most large vehicles such as semi-trailers and machinery used to maintain Council roads. The bridge was nearing the end of it serviceable life and required replacement.

The previous bridge structure was also subject to flood inundation during low flood events with an immunity of between 50% and 20% Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP), being inundated once every 2 to 5 years.

The new bridge is a three-span structure 37 metres in length, with a cross section total width of 13.7 metres to accommodate two wide traffic lanes and a 2.5-metre-wide shared path on each side.

The Gresham Street bridge replacement project was jointly funded by Council and the Australian Government as part of the Bridges Renewal Program.

Project features

The project involved:

  • construction of a temporary bridge east of the existing bridge, to maintain access during construction of the new bridge at Gresham Street
  • removal of the existing timber bridge and construction of a new elevated concrete bridge
  • minor relocation of the St Johns Wood Scout’s entrance to improve intersection safety
  • improved drainage infrastructure on Gresham Street, Royal Parade and Waterworks Road
  • pavement works and line marking
  • upgrade to LED street lighting and traffic signals at Waterworks Road
  • hard and soft landscaping, including tree planting.

Project benefits

The project benefits include:

  • a 100-year design life and more reliable access to and from the local residential area
  • a raised height of the bridge deck to improve flood immunity to a 1-in-20-year flood event
  • an increased vehicle load limit from 22.5 tonne to 42.5 tonne
  • improved drainage on Waterworks Road, Gresham Street and Royal Parade
  • improved intersection safety for all road users at Gresham Street and Waterworks Road.

Project timing

Works on the bridge replacement commenced in mid-April 2021 and were successfully completed in September 2022.

Project documents

Project video

Video supporting information

This video shows footage of the construction process and completed Gresham Street bridge project in Ashgrove. The video’s introductory slide shows the Australian Government and Brisbane City Council logos as the project was jointly funded by both parties.

In sequential order the video shows:

  • demolition of the old bridge
  • a piling rig drilling piles for the new bridge
  • cranes lowering beams into place for the temporary bridge
  • cranes lowering deck units for the new bridge
  • asphalt crew laying new road surface
  • electrical works to finalise the traffic signals at the intersection of Gresham Street and Waterworks Road
  • footage of cars crossing the completed Gresham Street bridge.

The video ends with a slide displaying the Australian Government and Brisbane City Council logos.

More information

If you have any questions about the Gresham Street Bridge replacement project you can:

  • call the project team on 1800 884 681
  • call Council on 07 3403 8888
  • email the project team
  • write to:
    Gresham Street Bridge replacement project
    City Projects Office
    Brisbane City Council
    GPO Box 1434
    Brisbane Qld 4001
Last updated: 23 November 2022

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