Goodwill Bridge

So, I'm standing here on the Goodwill Bridge, and it's pretty cool. It's a pedestrian and cyclist bridge, so no cars, which is nice. It connects the South Bank Parklands to Gardens Point in the Brisbane CBD, which is super convenient if you're trying to get between those spots.

They opened it on October 21, 2001, and it actually got its name from the Goodwill Games that were held here in Brisbane that same year. It's not just for walking, though; I've seen cyclists and even inline skaters on it.

The main parts of the bridge are this pavilion in the middle of the river and a big arch. The pavilion is pretty important because it supports one end of the arch. The arch itself is massive—102 meters long, 10 meters wide, and 15 meters high, and it weighs about 360 long tons. The whole bridge is about 450 meters long.

It's got a concrete deck with a broom finish, which I guess is to help with footing. And there are these colored sections that tell you where to be careful. They even have six CCTV cameras, monitored from South Bank, for security.

Apparently, this arch was built downstream at Hemmant and then floated up here on barges. It took three months to build. They actually floated it under the Captain Cook Bridge and then lifted it into place as one piece with two heavy lift towers. All the materials for the arch and pavilions, except the cables, came from local suppliers.

There was a bit of controversy when it was being built because the cost went up, and they ended up using $20.3 million in government funds. Queen Elizabeth II was supposed to open it, but after the 9/11 attacks, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting got postponed and moved, so the Queensland Premier, Peter Beattie, opened it instead.

Now, over 40,000 people use this bridge every week. It's a big deal for getting between South Bank and the city, especially for students going to Queensland University of Technology since the closest train station is in South Bank. I've also noticed these seating bays that stick out, which are great for just sitting and looking at the river. Some people think the design is a work of art, while others find it a bit odd because it's asymmetrical. But I think it's pretty unique!