The Goodwill Bridge is a pedestrian and cyclist bridge which spans the Brisbane River in Brisbane, Australia. The bridge connects the South Bank Parklands in South Brisbane to Gardens Point in the Brisbane CBD.
The Goodwill Bridge was opened on 21 October 2001 and takes its name from most the popular entry in a public naming competition. The bridge does not carry any motorised traffic — it is shared by pedestrians, cyclists and inline skaters.
Two main components of The Goodwill Bridge are the pavilion and the arch. The pavilion is located in the middle of the Brisbane River between the arch and the city approach. It is a fundamental component of the pedestrian and cycle bridge and supports one end of the arch. The arch is 102 metres (335 feet) in length, 10 metres (33 feet) wide and 15 metres (49 feet) high and weighs 360 long tons (366 t; 403 short tons).
History
The structure was built downstream at Hemmant and took three months to construct. On completion barges floated the arch upstream at low tide it was floated under the Captain Cook Bridge and then lifted as a single structure into its final resting position by two heavy lift towers. Four strategically positioned platforms and the pavilion-viewing platform provide rest points for pedestrians and cyclists. With exception of cables, all materials utilised in the construction of the arch and the pavilions were sourced from local suppliers.
Controversy arose during the construction of the bridge over its growing cost, and a subsequent budgetary blow-out which resulted in the use of $20.3 million in government funds. The bridge was scheduled to be opened by Queen Elizabeth II during her visit for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting summit to be held in Brisbane, but after the postponement of that meeting and change of venue to Coolum on the Sunshine Coast in the wake of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the bridge was instead opened by Queensland Premier, Peter Beattie.
