Major demolition for Cross River Rail ramps up at Roma Street

Cross River Rail Minister Kate Jones today announced the start of demolition for the Brisbane Transit Centre – marking the transformation of Roma Street to become Queensland’s most significant transport interchange.

“This project will create thousands of jobs and will transform the way we travel – making it quicker and easier to catch a train no matter where you live in southeast Queensland,” Ms Jones said.

“The start of demolition on Roma Street is a major milestone for Brisbane’s largest ever infrastructure project.

“The Brisbane Transit Centre must come down to make way for the new underground Cross River Rail station.

“The site is made up of three buildings which will all be demolished over the coming year – the vacated Hotel Jen, the East Tower and the West Tower, which houses the Brisbane Transit Centre.”

Ms Jones said demolition would be done progressively, with work already underway on Hotel Jen and structural demolition due to begin on the East Tower in the first quarter of 2020.

“We expect to start bringing down the central Brisbane Transit Centre building from March onwards. It’s easily one of Brisbane’s least loved buildings so it’s great that we can already see signs of progress at Roma Street, as Cross River Rail continues with major construction,” she said.

Demolition of the three buildings will take approximately a year to complete, with each building enclosed in scaffolding and demolished level by level, starting from the top and working down to ground level.

“This is one of Brisbane’s largest ever demolition exercises,” Ms Jones said.

“The Cross River Rail Precincts Delivery Strategy identifies great opportunities to revitalise the prime inner-city land that will be left behind.

“This will give us a once-in-a-generation opportunity to leverage billions of dollars’ worth of private sector investment, leading to thousands of new jobs and ensuring Brisbane continues to evolve as a truly world class city.”

Today’s announcement comes after the Premier announced the start of market sounding for a new Brisbane Live entertainment arena, that could also form part of a new Roma Street precinct.

Throughout demolition at Roma Street and subsequent construction works, safe access will be maintained to transport services and thoroughfare to Roma Street Parkland.  

In September, the Brisbane Coach Terminal formerly housed inside the Transit Centre was closed and the new Coach Terminal facility located next to Platform 10 officially opened to provide continuity of services for long-distance bus passengers.

A plan has also been developed to ensure train and bus passengers have continued access to existing services as well as to Roma Street Parkland throughout the demolition and station construction works.

ENDS   

Media contact: Jack Harbour 0419 620 447