The end of the road for vehicles on Victoria Bridge

A key Brisbane bridge linking the CBD to South Brisbane will close permanently to general car traffic on January 24 to make way for Brisbane Metro buses, cyclists and pedestrians.

Victoria Bridge is one of the city’s oldest bridges, and the closure to vehicles will be the latest development in the long saga of the Brisbane River crossing point.

The first bridge in the location was announced by Brisbane council in 1861 to connect the rapidly growing city centre with its southern suburbs.

Since the first timber bridge was agreed upon and built – not without controversy – numerous structures have straddled the river at the same location, leading to the existing bridge, built in the…