Shafston Avenue bikeway Archives - Kangaroo Point News

Shafston Avenue Bikeway Plan Draws Support And Discussion

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

The Trade-offs Behind Kangaroo Point’s Shafston Avenue Bikeway

A 1.2-kilometre stretch of Shafston Avenue is being redesigned around one of the inner city’s toughest transport questions: how to make room for walking and cycling without losing sight of local access and traffic flow.

Read: Shafston Avenue Bikeway Update: What Happens Next

Brisbane has released the preliminary design for the Shafston Avenue Bikeway, which would run from Deakin Street in Kangaroo Point to Mowbray Park in East Brisbane. The project is currently listed as planned and forms part of Stage 3 of the CityLink Cycleway.

The design includes a two-way bikeway and separate footpath, with Brisbane saying the upgrade would improve connections between the eastern suburbs, the CBD and the Kangaroo Point Bridge.

What is changing along Shafston Avenue

Photo credit: BBrisbane City Council preliminary design

The preliminary design proposes changes to intersections, crossings and local traffic movements along the route.

Space for Cycling Brisbane has highlighted a raised crossing near Deakin Street, changes at Cairns Street, adjustments at Castlebar Street and a new raised crossing near Thorn Street. It also points to changes around Wellington Road, Park Avenue and a bus stop near Salston Street.

The cycling advocacy group supports the design while also identifying several limitations arising from the corridor’s constraints. Sections around Cairns Street would remain shared paths, while the footpath and bikeway would cross each other in some locations.

The existing counter-flow bike lane between Castlebar Street and Thorn Street would be removed, while a seat and shelter near Connor Street would also go. Space for Cycling Brisbane also noted the removal of a significant number of trees, although it said designers had worked to minimise the impact and plant replacement trees where possible.

The preliminary design therefore includes changes affecting how pedestrians, cyclists and motorists move through parts of the corridor.

Traffic, Riverwalk, and the bigger connection

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council preliminary design

BCC’s August 2026 traffic and local-access information says that through movements on Shafston Avenue are predicted to receive travel-time savings of up to 40 seconds during the afternoon peak, while some local movements are expected to have longer wait times. The assessment says traffic modelling indicates the surrounding road network can continue to operate with broadly similar performance.

Brisbane CBD BUG has pointed to the modelling as evidence that concerns about worsening congestion do not tell the whole story, noting that through traffic could benefit while some local street movements could take longer.

CBD BUG also argued that separating people walking and riding would address concerns about interactions between different path users. Brisbane’s project description confirms the preliminary design provides a two-way bikeway alongside a separate footpath, although some shared sections remain.

The discussion also touches on the proposed Riverwalk connection between Dockside and Mowbray Park. CBD BUG has also raised the cost of that proposal, saying its estimated cost had risen from $22.3 million in 2020 to more than $90 million by 2024.

The group has described the Shafston Avenue bikeway as a step towards a dedicated active-transport connection through Brisbane’s inner east, linking with the Kangaroo Point Bridge and routes towards Mowbray Park.

Read: Preliminary Designs Released for New Kangaroo Point Bikeway Along Shafston Avenue

For the corridor itself, the preliminary design raises questions about traffic movements, trees, local access and existing pedestrian facilities.

With the project still at the preliminary-design stage, further decisions about the Shafston Avenue corridor are yet to be made.

Published 15-September-2026

Shafston Avenue Bikeway Update: What Happens Next

The Shafston Avenue Bikeway project is continuing to progress, with the proposed 1.2-kilometre route set to improve walking, riding, and scooting between Kangaroo Point and East Brisbane.

Read: Preliminary Designs Released for New Kangaroo Point Bikeway Along Shafston Avenue

The preliminary design was released in June, and the project remains listed as “Planned” as it progresses towards construction.

The proposed route will run along Shafston Avenue from Deakin Street in Kangaroo Point to Mowbray Park in East Brisbane.

Information session

An information session about the proposed bikeway was held on August 5 at the Queensland Multicultural Centre, giving people an opportunity to learn more about the proposal and ask questions.

Cr Trina Massey promoted the session, while the Brisbane CBD Bicycle User Group encouraged people to attend and show their support for the project. The Brisbane CBD Bicycle User Group has backed the proposed route, describing the project as a “huge win” for Brisbane’s inner east and the CBD.

The group said the proposal would create a separated route for active transport users along the corridor. The group also said construction was expected to begin in 2027, provided the project progresses as planned.

What the project will deliver

The Shafston Avenue Bikeway forms part of Stage 3 of the CityLink Cycleway. According to the project page, the 1.2-kilometre upgrade is intended to improve walking, riding, and scooting along Shafston Avenue while strengthening the connection between Brisbane’s eastern suburbs and the CBD via the Kangaroo Point Bridge.

The planned upgrade will include a two-way bikeway and a separate footpath. The separate facilities are intended to give people walking, riding and scooting their own spaces along the corridor. The June preliminary design material outlines the proposed route between Deakin Street and Mowbray Park and provides further detail on how the upgraded corridor is intended to operate.

Construction remains planned for 2027

The August 5 information session provided a further opportunity for people to hear about the proposed project, several weeks after the preliminary design was released.

The planned route will run from Deakin Street in Kangaroo Point to Mowbray Park in East Brisbane, creating a dedicated bikeway and separate footpath along the 1.2-kilometre stretch.

The Brisbane CBD Bicycle User Group has described the project as a “huge win” for Brisbane’s inner east and the CBD, while its August 5 post encouraged people to attend the information session and ask questions.

With construction expected to begin in 2027, the Shafston Avenue Bikeway remains a project to watch as the proposed walking and cycling improvements progress towards construction.

Read: Kangaroo Point Bikeway Planning Study: Charting a Path to Better Connectivity

For Kangaroo Point, the route is planned to provide another connection between the existing active transport network around Deakin Street and the route towards Mowbray Park.

The project’s next steps will determine how the preliminary design progresses towards delivery, with construction currently anticipated for 2027.

Published 19-August-2026

Kangaroo Point Bridge Opens Without Riverside Path to Mowbray Park

The Kangaroo Point Bridge will connect Brisbane’s CBD to Kangaroo Point for pedestrians and cyclists but has no direct riverside path to Mowbray Park, forcing users onto alternative routes.

A Missed Opportunity for Riverside Connectivity

The bridge that many have been eagerly awaiting, set to open on 15 December, was designed to improve active transportation in the inner-east, while still leaving a gap in connectivity towards the east. Cyclists and walkers seeking a seamless route from Kangaroo Point to Mowbray Park must navigate Shafston Avenue’s narrow footpaths or detour through Kangaroo Point’s side streets to reach established trails.

A once-promised Riverwalk connecting the two points was cancelled in mid-2023 due to spiralling costs, leaving community members frustrated with the lack of a complete network.

Kangaroo Point Bridge — *Photo Credit: BCC/Facebook*

The Cost of Shelving the Riverwalk

Originally estimated at $22.5 million, the Riverwalk project faced budget blowouts that pushed the price tag to $93 million. Challenges included land acquisition, environmental constraints, and the need for complex construction along the Brisbane River.

Council confirmed it has no plans to revive the Riverwalk, citing the prohibitive costs and the logistical hurdles posed by private pontoons and residential developments along the riverbank.

The scrapped Riverwalk plan would have required the Dockside ferry terminal to be demolished and rebuilt, with much of the walkway built on piles or micropiles over the river. Despite strong community support during consultation, local authorities shifted focus to a more cost-effective alternative.

Shafston Avenue Bikeway: The Chosen Alternative

Council and the Department of Transport and Main Roads have committed to a joint project: a $35-million bikeway along Shafston Avenue. This route will connect the new bridge’s Deakin Road landing to the Lytton Road bikeway, bypassing the need for a costly riverside path. Council transport officials argued this solution would deliver faster and more direct benefits for residents and cyclists in East Brisbane.

The Shafston Avenue bikeway is expected to be completed by 2027–28. However, some locals worry that the alternative plan means the Riverwalk may never be revisited.

Previous studies showed strong public preference for a riverside route, with over 600 submissions to the council’s active transport study between 2021 and 2022 supporting the Riverwalk project.

Published 10-Dec-2024