In huge Cross River Rail news this week, demolition has begun on the CBD’s Hotel Jen, reports the State Government. 

The demolishment of the vacated property is the first of the major building removals for the project which will also include The Brisbane Transit Centre including the East and West Towers, the pedestrian bridge over Roma Street and some vehicle ramps.  The demolition phase for Brisbane’s first underground rail network will take around 12 months. 

The 18-floor Hotel Jen was originally opened as the Brisbane Travelodge in 1986. 

Cross River Rail minister Kate Jones said the demolition will start at the top of the building and work downwards, and was of one of Brisbane’s largest ever exercises. 

“Nothing says progress on a construction site like an 85-metre crane at work on a building completely engulfed in scaffolding,” Jones said.

Ms Jones said the project is crucial for avoiding bottlenecks in the future.  The project as a whole could generate up to 35,000 new jobs and $20 billion worth of new economic development.

“It allows us to run more trains more often across the whole of southeast Queensland. We expect that with Cross River Rail in place, an extra 47,000 people will choose rail instead of road by 2036,”Jones Said.

Hannah Schuhmann said this next step has the city buzzing! Not only is the removal of Hotel Jen and the Transit Centre crucial to make way for the $5.4 billion project, it will remove two of the largest eyesores in the CBD skyline.