A long-awaited second crossing over the Bremer River in central Ipswich has moved a significant step closer to reality, with $4 million secured to fund a Detailed Business Case for the proposed new bridge.
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Ipswich City’s local officials welcomed the funding announcement on Friday 27 February, describing it as the commencement of an important project that the community has pushed for over more than a decade.
With a Preliminary and Strategic Business Case already completed, the latest injection of funds secures the critical next planning phase, the Detailed Business Case, which will lay the groundwork for what could eventually become the city’s second inner-city river crossing.
For daily commuters and residents who know central Ipswich well, the need for another bridge is no mystery. The David Trumpy Bridge currently stands as the only inner-city crossing over the Bremer River, carrying the full burden of traffic moving through a city that has grown substantially in recent years. The broader Ipswich corridor has experienced significant population growth in recent years, adding pressure to roads funnelling toward a single crossing point.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the new crossing had been on the community’s radar for a long time. “A second inner city river crossing had been on the Ipswich community’s wish list for more than a decade,” Mayor Harding said.
Beyond easing peak-hour gridlock, Mayor Harding pointed to flood resilience as one of the most compelling reasons to push ahead. Anyone who has lived through Ipswich’s major flood events knows how vulnerable a city can become when it relies on a single crossing. “The second crossing will play a critical role in improving flood immunity and strengthening the resilience of our transport network,” she said.
There’s also a broader vision for what a second bridge could mean for Ipswich’s city centre. Mayor Harding noted it would help “unlock the full potential of our CBD by diverting unnecessary through-traffic and easing congestion on the existing David Trumpy Bridge.”
Transport and Main Roads Minister Brent Mickelberg said the funding allows the project to move into the next phase which is the Detailed Business Case.
“Supporting Ipswich City Council’s planning work for a second bridge over the Bremer River in central Ipswich demonstrates our commitment to delivering what we said we would during the election.”
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The $4 million investment forms part of the State’s Safer Roads, Better Transport initiative.
It’s worth noting that a Detailed Business Case is still a planning document. Further planning, approvals, and a construction funding commitment would all be required before any building could begin.
Published 9-March-2026
