Go Between Bridge

The Go Between Bridge is unfortunately another example of the cronyism of BCC. Everybody knows we need more vehicle crossings of the river, however the place that’s really crying out for a link is Toowong — Hill End. Never going to happen peeps, for the simple reason that Hill End residents are too rich and influential (read politicians).
So we get the Go Between instead. Good idea — but right next to the William Jolly Bridge! Which is free, two lanes each way and functions perfectly well. The Go Between is also often a bit choked up due to its odd single lane exits on Coronation Drive, which makes paying the cash even more annoying.
I do use it sometimes, but only if I’m actually on Musgrave Rd and the lights turn green quicker in that direction.

How does one give a bridge 5 stars? I mean, I can see someone who helped build the thing getting passionately proud, but to the rest of us it’s not particularly an exciting topic. (Just in case, I googled «bridge appreciation» and can’t find any societies of bridge fetishists. I’m not saying they’re not out there, but not in dangerous numbers.)
Well, this bridge manages to get 5 stars based on some traffic advantages. (That seems a sensible gauge. Who likes traffic?) My regular route of driving from Musgrave Road to West End is now cut short to a ridiculous extent. During rush hour, it’ll take about a quarter of the time to use The Go Between Bridge as compared to the traditional winding back-​street crawl towards its alternatives.
The bridge’s name was decided by a website competition («Name That Bridge») in reference to Brisbane-​based indie rock band The Go-​Betweens. After this was revealed as the winner there was a lot of naysaying from some crowds, but I like it. It’s a band but as a bridge it’s also a go-​between! (Yes, a terrible joke: I think it’s my father speaking through me.)
Finished in mid-​2010, the bridge has proven to be a handy little traffic avoidance. You should buy the e-​tag thing, or you pay a mandatory image processing fee of $ 0.47 per trip. Then you receive the unpaid toll notice charge in the mail, which is $ 6.50. The first unpaid toll notice reminder shoots it up to $ 13.35 and so on.
So get the e-​tag, unless you’re rich or lazy. And that’s okay.

I love the fact that the Go Between Bridge was named after the amazing awesome band The Go Betweens. That is right, it is named after a band not because it helps you «go between» places, although it certainly does this as well. The Go Betweens were an indie rock group that formed in Brisbane and if you haven’t heard them then you should definitely check them out.
The Go Between Bridge is a toll bridge. Whenever I see the word toll bridge my brain always reads troll bridge instead. While the bridge will certainly steal your money it won’t actually clobber you with a club or anything like that. The best way to pay your toll is to invest in one of those gadgets that you stick in the inside of your windscreen. It will register and beep as the toll is collected and you almost don’t have to think about it. The bridge itself is most useful to avoid traffic (especially at peak hour) and makes travelling from the south side to the western suburbs and inner city that little bit easier. It is also has a pedestrian and cyclist path as well.
Because I am cheap, I tend not to use the Go Between Bridge unless I really have to but when I do it is always a breeze.