LATEST NEWS

Ipswich City Council has commissioned a 3D model and video flyover which provides a ‘bird’s eye’ view of the future bridge planned to link North Ipswich and East Ipswich in the vicinity of Norman Street.

View the flyover here.

Using modern computer technology, the flyover gives the community a fresh perspective on Council’s vision for the Norman Street Bridge and how it will serve the Ipswich City Centre. The model depicts the many development projects planned for the city and the opportunities that a second crossing of the Bremer River will open up.

Council’s vision is to integrate the new bridge with the surrounding waterway and open space areas as part of a future ‘River Heart’ stage. Bikeways, walking trails, playgrounds, picnic areas, pontoons and riverbank landscaping could be included in the project’s scope.

Based on forecast growth, Council anticipates the new bridge is needed within the next eight years.

The next step in the project is the development of a business case to demonstrate the new bridge’s economic and civic benefits.

BACKGROUND

There has been talk in the community for many years about the need for a new bridge across the Bremer River, linking North Ipswich and East Ipswich in the vicinity of Norman Street. Ipswich City Council and the Queensland Government have recently completed a Feasibility Study into the Norman Street Bridge, and the extension of Jacaranda Street-Wattle Street through to Brisbane Road at Booval, to provide a long-term strategic road link to cater for future travel demands as the population of Ipswich grows.

BENEFITS

Once constructed, the Norman Street Bridge and the associated road network will deliver many positive benefits citywide. The new bridge will encourage non-essential through traffic out of the Ipswich City Centre, making way for opportunities for streetscape improvements, on-street dining, speed limit reductions as well as enhanced pedestrian and public transport facilities.

Other benefits include:

• Travel time savings
• Reduction in traffic congestion
• Alternative cross-city access
• Enhanced access to the emerging northern part of the Ipswich City Centre
• Bus network efficiencies
• Improved pedestrian and cycle connections.

Visualisation of the Norman Street Bridge from the South

BUSINESS CASE

With the planning and community engagement phases completed, the project now moves into the Business Case phase to assist with securing funding to construct Stage 1 of the Norman Street Bridge.

Print this page |