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Brisbane Infrastructure Projects: Background and Development Path

Major transport initiatives reflect ongoing efforts to improve connectivity across key corridors and reduce pressure on existing routes.

By Brisbane News Desk · Published 25 July 2026

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This article was written by AI from the linked sources and was not reviewed by a journalist before publishing. The Daily Brisbane is part of The Daily Network and follows our reasonable editorial care.

Story Bridge and Brisbane River seen from The Bavarian Eagle Street Pier, Brisbane. Photo: Kgbo / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Brisbane has advanced several large-scale transport projects that address connectivity across the Brisbane River and central areas. The Cross River Rail project forms a central element of this work as a $17 billion initiative that includes a 5.9km twin tunnel under the Brisbane River and CBD along with four new underground stations.

Cross River Rail Origins

The Cross River Rail project was developed to provide additional rail capacity through the CBD. Its design features a 5.9km twin tunnel and four new underground stations, with completion targeted for 2029. This scale of investment builds on earlier planning to expand rail options beneath the Brisbane River and central business district.

Adelaide Street Tunnel Opening

The Adelaide Street tunnel opened in September 2025. It supplies a dedicated bus and metro connection between the Inner Northern Busway and South East Busway. The tunnel was constructed to ease congestion in the CBD by separating bus and metro movements from general traffic.

Additional Highway and Metro Programs

The Bruce Highway upgrade follows a 10-year program focused on lane widening, flood resilience, safety barriers and interchange improvements. Brisbane Metro's first stage proceeds as a $1.7 billion fully electric high-capacity service linking the CBD with suburbs, with initial services scheduled from 2024. These programs extend capacity improvements beyond the central area.

Green Bridges Program

The Green Bridges program involves up to $550 million in investment for connections across inner-city precincts that support walking, cycling and public transport access. Two bridges remain under construction with completion expected in 2024. The program adds dedicated paths that complement the larger rail and road works already underway.

These projects continue according to their stated timelines. Residents can monitor updates through the listed government project sites for any changes to opening dates or construction stages.