Evening Rail Closures on Shorncliffe Line and Centenary Bridge Works Highlight Tuesday Commute

Commuter Overview for Tuesday, 17 February 2026

Welcome to the morning commute update for Tuesday, 17 February 2026. While the general road network remains stable for the morning peak, significant infrastructure projects and planned evening rail disruptions will require careful journey planning for those traveling later in the day. High-frequency options such as the Brisbane Metro are performing well, but western and northern corridor commuters should remain alert for specific project impacts.

Rail Alerts: Shorncliffe Line Disruptions

Commuters on the Shorncliffe line must prepare for early closures this evening. As part of the ongoing rollout of the European Train Control System (ETCS) and Cross River Rail testing, the track between Northgate and Sandgate will be closed starting from 7:45 PM. Buses will replace trains for all services through to the end of the day. In addition to the signalling tests, construction crews will be active on the track near Boondall, North Boondall, Deagon, and Sandgate stations installing new infrastructure. Travelers are advised to check the Translink journey planner for updated bus departure times and allow up to 30 minutes of extra travel time.

Road Conditions: Centenary Motorway and Gateway Upgrades

At Jindalee, the Centenary Bridge Upgrade continues to be a major focus for western suburb commuters. Following the successful opening of the new northbound bridge, all traffic has been transitioned to allow for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the original southbound structure. Motorists should be aware of narrow lanes and a reduced speed limit of 60 km/h through the construction zone. While six lanes remain available across the river, the changed alignment and ongoing work may cause minor delays during the afternoon peak. This stage of the project is critical for future-proofing the Centenary Motorway corridor.

On the Gateway Motorway, safety improvement works between Nudgee and Deagon remain active. While much of the heavy construction and resurfacing is scheduled for night hours to minimize disruption, daytime commuters may still encounter barricaded shoulders and temporary speed reductions. These works aim to address high-risk crash zones and are expected to continue through mid-year.

Local Traffic and Public Transport

Inner-city arterial roads are experiencing localized disruptions. Specifically, Sandgate Road in Albion and Ipswich Road through Annerley are subject to ongoing pavement and service upgrades, which may slow traffic during peak flow. In the south, long-term construction on Mortimer Road and Learoyd Road in Acacia Ridge continues to impact local freight and commuter movements.

For those opting for public transport, the Brisbane Metro system is in full operation. The M1 route from Eight Mile Plains and the M2 route from UQ Lakes are providing high-frequency, turn-up-and-go services through the Adelaide Street tunnel, offering a reliable alternative to road congestion in the CBD and inner-southern suburbs.