Bridge beaming with new progress

LOCALLY manufactured steel beams are now in place for the new rail crossing bridge at Barwon Heads Road as the project continues on schedule.

Earlier this month, contractors finished lifting the 18 beams for the 97m-long, 9m-high bridge at Marshall, which will remove a level crossing on the Geelong Line.

Corio family business Thornton Engineering made the beams before shipping them out via specially made exit gates for their journey south to the bridge worksite.

The Marshall rail bridge is a key component of the $365 million Barwon Heads Road duplication project, that will duplicate the road for 4km between Settlement Road, Belmont and Reserve Road, Charlemont.

The project also includes the installation of shared walking and cycling paths that will link to existing paths to other stations.

Wall panels incorporating designs by Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation will also be part of the bride design.

The Barwon Heads Road stage one upgrade is due to finish late next year.

Federal and state governments have also promised a stage two redevelopment that would extend the duplication to Lower Duneed Road.