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New $1.5M Bridge Planned For LindenowA new bridge is to be built over the Mitchell River at Lindenow within two years following the tabling of a report to this week’s council meeting that recommends the immediate closure of the Calulu Bridge. By East Gippsland Shire Council - 15th July 2005 - Back to News Council’s Group Manager Infrastructure Chris Waites presented a report to Councillors prepared by engineers SKM Consultants that said since the existing bridge was reopened in 1998 it had deteriorated rapidly and noticeably and was now in an a condition that was unsatisfactory for continued use by vehicles and stock. As a result the bridge will be closed tomorrow. (15 July).
"The report had confirmed suspicions that the bridge posed unacceptable risks to public safety and should be closed immediately," Mr Waites said.
"The report also suggests that while repairs could be undertaken to maintain the current load limit and speed limit of the structure, within 3-5 years it would most likely reach the end of its useful life.
"The cost of these repairs would be in the order of $300,000 and given the limited extension to the life of the bridge is considered undesirable," he said.
The condition of the Calulu Bridge was last reported to Council in 1995 and at that time it was closed for an extended period.
After maintenance works on the 140 metre structure, it was reopened with a load limit of 5 Tonnes and a speed limit of 10 km/h.
Mr Waites said the cost of a replacement is estimated at $1.5 million and will result in a structure with a 50 –100 year design life without being load limited below normal road standards.
At the meeting Cr Michael Freshwater moved the acceptance of the recommendation that Council "immediately closes the Calulu Bridge over the Mitchell River east of Lindenow to all non-pedestrian traffic including closure to any livestock movement; commences with planning and design of a replacement structure as a matter of urgency; and includes the construction of the new Calulu Bridge in future budget deliberations for the 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 financial years."
The motion was passed unanimously.
Cr Freshwater later said that while closure of the Calulu Bridge would cause inconvenience to the community, public safety took priority.
"There is no way we can put people and their property at risk by continuing to use the bridge," he said "and if we failed to close it we would be negligent in our responsibilities to the community."
Cr Freshwater said he was pleased that all Councillors supported the decision to replace the bridge.
Mayor Cr Jane Rowe said the construction of a new bridge would be given the highest priority.
"Given the design and engineering work that is required for a structure of this size, we would hope to see a new bridge as early as the first half of 2007."
"Council recognises the importance of this bridge crossing to the community and will be looking to speed up the process wherever possible."
Road users will now be required to cross the Mitchell River via the Wuk Wuk Bridge, approximately 9km west of the Calulu Bridge.
Improvements to the Wuk Wuk Bridge will be undertaken to accommodate both current and increased traffic movements.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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