Hale Street Link, Brisbane

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Hale Street Link is a proposed toll bridge over the Brisbane River in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. If built, the bridge would connect Merivale and Cordelia Streets in West End to Hale Street and the Inner City Bypass at Milton.

A cross-river tunnel was proposed by Campbell Newman in this area as part of his TransApex system in the lead up to the 2004 local government elections. After winning the election, Newman commissioned a pre-feasibility for TransApex which rejected a tunnel crossing at this location based on both engineering and economic reasons.

Critics have pointed out that without proper connecting roads, the bridge will cause increased traffic congestion on local streets in West End. The bridge would use Merivale and Cordelia Streets which are adjacent to Brisbane State High School, a major school in the area with approximately 2200 students. Concerns have been raised by members of the public and many members from within the school, if the increased traffic along the roads would adversely affect students health and ability to learn because of the increased noise levels and higher pollution levels. The bridge was supported by QLD Deputy Premier Anna Bligh, even though she has a son currently attending Brisbane State High School.

Adding to the controversy has been the proposal by the Lord Mayor of Brisbane Campbell Newman that the cost of the bridge should be recouped by a toll. There has been some community concern at the growing cost of feasibility and other studies. The Lord Mayor's close connection to major engineering businesses (he is a former engineer) has caused some in the Brisbane community to allege that the Lord Mayor is "in cahoots" with the construction industry^{[citation needed]}. Others maintain that major transport infrastructure is long overdue if Brisbane is to forestall gridlock.