Cyclists angry over 'toxic' bikeway's closure Signs on fences blocking the path have warned of asbestos being removed. It's become known as the toxic path. Brisbane's northside cycling community says it has been kept in the dark about the ongoing closure of a 700 metre stretch of bike path constructed as part of the Airport Link tunnel project. The erection of signs in July warning of asbestos removal have been their only clue as to why the vital section of pathway remains closed nearly 18 months after the project was completed. The section of the bikeway remains closed 18 months after the completion of Airport Link. Repeated requests to various government departments and the project developers have gone unanswered. Mitch Bright of the Airport Bicycle Users Group said the closure of the link between Campbell Street in Bowen Hills and Mann Park in Windsor was endangering cyclists. He said detours take them along traffic bottleneck Bowen Bridge Road, where there are no designated bike lanes and cyclists are forced either into traffic or onto the footpath. Northside cyclists were already frustrated by the lack of investment in cycling infrastructure on their side of the river, he said, with no dedicated bike path from the northern suburbs to the CBD. "Cyclists were told when the Airport Link was being constructed, there would be a lot of disruption to the cycle network but they promised all would be better when Airport Link was finished," he said. Now the road part has been open for more than 12 months but the bike part has been closed. In Toowong you can ride into the city without even crossing a road, and we pretty much have no path from the northside to the city. As a comparison, the northside is the poor cousin. Mr Bright said there had been unconfirmed reports of a standoff between the project developer Theiss John Holland and Brisbane City Council over safety standards on that section of path. However, after more than 12 months, he said cyclists were frustrated. "It's politics rather than practicality," he said. If someone decided to get it done, it would happen. A forum dedicated to updates and discussion on the closure has arisen on the website brisbanecyclist.com. Northside cyclist Chris Hall has led the quest for information, questioning the council, the Department of Transport and Main Roads, Theiss John Holland and Bris Connections, the failed owner of the project. None have been forthcoming with answers as to why it has remained closed and when it will open. "There are always hints it will open next week or next month but nothing happens," he said. There's a delay or something else pops up to cause a delay. There was that issue about asbestos and lots of hints about environmental contamination but nothing is ever said. We have definitely been treated as mushrooms. A Queensland Government spokesperson told Fairfax Media on Wednesday evening soil contamination had caused the delay but did not elaborate on the kind of contamination. "Soil contamination at the site has meant additional works have been undertaken by an external contractor, and weather permitting, these works are expected to be finalised later this month," the spokesperson said. Council will then be in a position to communicate about the bikeway opening. State government works is underway to improve cycling infrastructure on Brisbane's northside. On Monday, stage 1a of the North Brisbane bikeway went out to tender, a project that will provide further off road linkage for cyclists heading to the CBD. The path will run from Gilchrist Avenue within the Victoria Park golf complex to the back of the RNA showgrounds.