Repair works yet to start on bridge

THE Pollocksford Road Bridge in Gnarwarre will be closed for at least another three months, with repair works yet to start.

In an update late last year, the Surf Coast Shire said planning was underway to repair the deck and reopen the bridge, which connecting Barrabool Road with the Hamilton Highway near Stonehaven.

Shire workers are working with structural engineers to develop plans to replace the deck of the bridge.

Once works are complete a load limit of 20 tonnes will still be in place, allowing buses and cars towing horse floats to use the bridge again.

Larger trucks will still not be allowed to use the bridge.

Options are being developed to stop these trucks from using the bridge.

“We understand the bridge’s extended closure has been an inconvenience for locals,” said Chris Pike, General Manager Placemaking and Environment.

“We thank the community for their patience as we have worked through this project.”

“Once we have completed designs and a contractor has been appointed, we will share the works timelines with the community. We don’t expect to know this information before March 2025 with works to start in mid 2025,” he said.

Pollocksford Road Bridge has been closed since April 2024, after a routine structural inspection found deterioration had occurred more quickly than expected.

The bridge was closed when it was found that heavy trucks continued to use the bridge despite a load limit and speed restriction being in place.

The bridge is on the border of Surf Coast Shire and Golden Plains Shire, so the project is a joint project between the two councils.

For more information on the project, head to surfcoast.vic.gov.au/PollocksfordRoadBridge