The opportunity to snap selfies on a stroll through a Brisbane traffic tunnel was one more than 20,000 people were not willing to pass up this weekend.
The one time only offer to walk through the Legacy Way tunnel ahead of its opening to traffic sometime in June was jumped at by pedestrians eager to see how the $1.5 billion project came together.
The 4.6-kilometre tunnel will connect the Western Freeway at Toowong with the Inner City Bypass at Kelvin Grove.
It is the largest piece of infrastructure built by a local council anywhere in Australia.
Throughout Sunday, participants were bussed in from special locations around the city for the chance to walk through part or the full length of the westbound lanes of the tunnel.
They were also treated to music, food and drinks, a jumping castle and face painting.
Oxley resident Kelly Bentson and her daughters Willa, 6, and Sage, 4, were some of the first to enter the tunnel.
“We think it’s a very exciting thing to do because you’ll only ever be able to do it once,” she said.
“It’s a thing in history for my daughters to remember.
“I think I’ll be using the tunnel – there will be times when we use it. I’m a bit of an infrastructure nerd. I do work in the industry so I like to do these sorts of things.”
Jamboree Heights resident Michael Mann, who has been watching the project closely ever since the first sod was turned, was keen to see the final product.
“I wanted to look at the tunnel and get a bit of exercise. I’ve been keen to check out the design,” he said.
“The tunnel is on my route, I’ll probably be using it.”
Earlier this week it was announced a trip through the tunnel would cost $4.85, but will be discounted for the first year.
The first of more than 20,000 pedestrians who took to the Legacy Way tunnel on Sunday.
Take off with Natarajan 