Is the Brisbane Story Bridge Pedestrian Path Open?

About the Closure

On March 5th, 2025, the Brisbane City Council closed the Story Bridge pedestrian and cycling paths indefinitely, citing safety concerns linked to ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. This decision was made with minimal communication to the thousands of daily commuters who depend on this crucial bridge for cycling and pedestrian access.

The closure caused significant disruption, particularly for cyclists and pedestrians, forcing them to find alternative routes that were often longer, less safe, or entirely impractical. According to Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner's official statement, the western footpath reopened on October 3rd, 2025, after being closed for over 6 months. However, the eastern footpath remains closed with installation of replacement decking now underway.

In a concerning development, the council has revealed that the Story Bridge may need to return to being a toll bridge unless other levels of government help fund its restoration. An independent committee has found that the 85-year-old bridge would be unable to carry traffic within 20 years without a full restoration, at a cost which the council claims would be "beyond council".

What's particularly concerning is that the council has known about these structural issues for years. Despite "regular maintenance and renewal work," the bridge's condition has deteriorated to the point where water is now leaking through the concrete, and sections of the path are in worse condition than previously reported. This raises serious questions about the council's long-term planning and maintenance of this critical piece of infrastructure.

This unexpected move has sparked frustration among active transport advocates, who see it as another example of Brisbane's vulnerability in terms of cycling infrastructure resilience. Despite the claimed need for structural assessments as part of a broader restoration plan for the aging bridge, the lack of transparency and immediate alternatives has raised questions about the city's commitment to prioritising active transport.

Current Status & Impact on Commuters

The Story Bridge provides a vital connection between Kangaroo Point and the CBD/Fortitude Valley areas. With only the western footpath currently open:

• Western footpath: Open for pedestrians and cyclists travelling from Kangaroo Point to the city
• Eastern footpath: Still closed with replacement decking installation underway
• During the full closure, cyclists had to detour via Edward Street, Felix Street, and Eagle Street before descending onto the City Reach Boardwalk
• Pedestrians faced limited crossing options and longer travel times
• Those with mobility challenges had even fewer accessible river crossing alternatives

Communication Issues

Despite the significant impact on Brisbane residents, the Brisbane City Council initially provided:

• Minimal advance notice of the closure
• Limited information about the reasons for the closure
• No clear timeline for when the paths would reopen
• Insufficient updates on progress or alternative solutions

According to the official council statement, the western footpath replacement was delivered ahead of schedule, with the eastern path originally scheduled for early 2026 but now on track for early completion.

Replacement Works & Future Plans

According to the council's official announcement, the replacement works include:

• Around 300 metres of replacement footpath decking on the city-side (western) footpath
• Strong, lightweight, custom-made panels fixed onto locally sourced steel frames
• Same material successfully used at the Cultural Centre boardwalk in 2021
• Almost $7 million investment in replacement footpath decking
• Part of nearly $80 million invested in the Story Bridge since 2019

The eastern path installation has now begun and is on track for early completion, originally scheduled for early 2026.

Partial Reopening Achieved

Stay Informed

This page has been updated to reflect the partial reopening of the Story Bridge pedestrian and cycling paths. We'll continue to monitor the progress of the eastern footpath replacement works.

For official information about current bikeway status, you can check the Brisbane City Council website or refer to the Lord Mayor's official statement.