The proposed Shafston Avenue Bikeway has drawn fresh discussion in Kangaroo Point, with Brisbane CBD BUG backing Brisbane City’s proposal for a separated cycling corridor along the 1.2km route.
Read: The Trade-offs Behind Kangaroo Point’s Shafston Avenue Bikeway
The active transport group said it fully supported the proposal, pointing to the separation of people walking and riding as an important feature of the design. It also argued that discussion of the project should take account of traffic benefits identified in Brisbane’s modelling.
The preliminary design runs from Deakin Street in Kangaroo Point to Mowbray Park in East Brisbane as part of Stage 3 of the CityLink Cycleway. Brisbane said the upgrade will provide a two-way bikeway and separate footpath, creating dedicated space for people walking and riding while improving connections to the Kangaroo Point Bridge and wider network.
Traffic movements have been another point of discussion. BCC’s August 2026 traffic assessment found through movements on Shafston Avenue were predicted to receive travel-time savings of up to 40 seconds during the afternoon peak, primarily due to the removal of the left turn into O’Connell Street.
The modelling also identified longer waits for some movements. The average wait for a left turn from Shafston Avenue into Cairns Street may increase by around 10 seconds during peak periods, while the turn from Cairns Street towards Shafston Avenue and Main Street is expected to increase by around 80 seconds. Brisbane said traffic volumes for some movements were expected to fall as drivers used alternative routes.
A right turn from Deakin Street to Cairns Street could also see average wait times increase by around 20 seconds during peak periods, according to the assessment. Overall, Brisbane’s modelling indicates the surrounding road network can continue to operate with broadly similar performance, with some changes to traffic volumes, routes and peak-period wait times.
The proposal has also prompted discussion about trees, local access and the longer-term future of a riverside walking and cycling connection between Dockside and Mowbray Park. BCC’s infrastructure planning documents have previously identified the Kangaroo Point Riverwalk between the Dockside Ferry Terminal and Mowbray Park as a planned infrastructure project. The current Local Government Infrastructure Plan remains the statutory framework for identifying future trunk infrastructure, although inclusion in the plan does not itself mean funding has been allocated.
Read: Karni Liddell Pushes For Greater Independence Through Better Brisbane Access
The Shafston Avenue Bikeway remains at the preliminary design stage. Brisbane said the design has been developed through traffic modelling, engineering investigations and other technical assessments, with community feedback to be considered before the final design is released.
The discussion now covers several practical questions, including how traffic will move through the corridor, how walking and riding spaces should be arranged, and how the Shafston Avenue route could work alongside any future riverside connection.
Published 25-September-2026
