Live testing of the Brisbane bus network’s Adelaide Street Tunnel begins this month with changes to weekend bus services around the CBD made to accommodate the work.
Brisbane City Council Transport Chair Ryan Murphy said as part of the testing, buses and metros would drive through the new tunnel for the first time.
Cr Murphy said when the tunnel opened for passengers this year, it would carry more than 1390 buses and Metro vehicles every day and ease congestion in the CBD by moving services off street level and into the new underground link.
He said over 10 weekends, a team of up to 70 specialists would carry out critical commissioning works – from activating smart software systems and testing lighting and ventilation, to integrating public announcements and communications with the existing busway network.
“The tunnel will be rigorously tested under 70 different operational scenarios to ensure every system, sensor and safety feature works seamlessly before passengers are welcomed later this year.”
Cr Murphy said to allow for the testing to take place, the inner-city busway tunnel system would temporarily close on weekends, with detours and replacement services in place.
“The tunnel is the biggest and most complex piece of infrastructure being delivered for the Brisbane Metro as it will deliver the missing link between the South East Busway and the Inner Northern busway.”
He said to facilitate the weekend works the following changes would be in place between June 20 and August 25, with the exception of Saturday, July 19 when the Roma Street busway station would reopen from 4.30pm to midnight for the Wallabies vs British and Irish Lions game at Suncorp Stadium:
- The Queen Street, City Hall / King George Square Station and Roma Street busway stations will close from last service Friday night to 5am Monday.
- Buses that normally use the inner-city busway tunnel will detour at street level.
- Metro services will be operated by bus replacement services.
- Some services may arrive or depart up to six minutes earlier or later during works – Journey Planner and the Translink website timetables will be updated.
- The Ezymart inside City Hall/King George Square will not open during weekend works.
