Life in Australia | Undeterred by the Pandemic, Brisbane's Cross River Rail Breaks Ground

The pandemic has dealt a massive blow to the global economy. Yet even in these extraordinary circumstances, a number of Queensland government projects are ramping up construction. Among them, Brisbane's largest-ever infrastructure project — the Cross River Rail — has now broken ground.

Brisbane currently has only one inner-city rail line crossing the river, and it is expected to reach capacity in the near future. Cross River Rail is Queensland's biggest infrastructure project to date, costing A$5.4 billion and creating 7,000 local jobs. The line runs 10.2 km from Dutton Park to Bowen Hills, including 5.9 km of twin tunnels beneath the Brisbane River and the Brisbane CBD. The project will resolve the severe capacity constraints across the rail network.

The project will build four new underground stations at Boggo Road, Woolloongabba, Albert Street and Roma Street. It will also upgrade eight surface stations, including Salisbury, Rocklea, Moorooka, Yeerongpilly, Yeronga, Fairfield, Dutton Park and Exhibition.

The bus station at the Brisbane Transit Centre on Roma Street has now been permanently closed. Demolition of the station's above-ground structure — the 22-storey Jens Hotel — has also been underway for several months. On 18 May, tunnel excavation officially began, and the new Roma Street train station will take the place of the Brisbane Transit Centre.

Woolloongabba station is the centrepiece of a major precinct development, made possible by the Cross River Rail project. It involves the refurbishment of the Gabba stadium, new construction and pedestrian connections, and the creation of a mixed-use precinct around the new station.

As construction progresses, people's travel will be affected to some degree:

1. Roma Street bus station closure. The bus station will be closed for up to 15 weeks from 18 May. As a large number of bus services are affected, the government will set up temporary bus stops.

2. On weekends and public holidays, train services may be temporarily suspended at times due to construction.

3. During the 12-month demolition works, streets around Roma Street will be briefly closed.

4. For 15 weeks from 18 May, the Inner North services will be rerouted. Buses that previously travelled via the Inner North will depart from King George Square station and run to Roma Street. As a result, there will be a temporary new stop at Roma Street.

5. Demolition works at Albert Street station are largely complete. Between Mary St and Albert St there is a pedestrian tunnel connecting the two streets.