Bridge works modified to maintain access

Allambee residents who feared they faced a week of lengthy detours while bridge works were undertaken this week, were pleased the contractor agreed to close the day for just one day.

After receiving letters on January 19 advising of the week long closure this week, a number of residents expressed their concerns to contractor McInnes Earthmoving and Baw Baw Shire.

Residents were advised Allambee Estate Rd would be closed all this week as part of a two week works project to replace a bridge at Lorkin Creek.

The letter said following the week’s closure, the road would be re-opened and traffic would be allowed to travel through the work site under revised traffic conditions.

But with little notice and frustrated at facing a week of lengthy detours, a number of local residents complained.

Hayden Opie said notification on Friday that the bridge would be only closed for one day (today) was good news.

“Given that we have gone from a proposed Monday morning to Friday evening 24 hour closure to a Tuesday daytime only closure, that is a mighty big change of position by the council.

“It is vastly better than what we faced,” he said.

It was not the first time residents in that area had faced road closures, delays and detours.

Mr Opie said it was disappointing council did not learn from complaints about the lack of community consultation when it closed the road last year to test the foundations of two other bridges further along the road.

Mr Opie said residents contacted council and the contractors with a number of concerns, particularly bushfire risk; health and safety of some residents if emergency vehicles could not access the area; and the condition of the alternative route.

Residents put forward a solution, requesting a temporary bridge be installed over the creek to allow local and emergency vehicular traffic to by-pass the works and continue direct between Allambee Estate Rd and McDonald’s Trk.

“At the very least, a pedestrian bridge should be installed so that residents can walk between vehicles parked on both sides of the creek,” they said.

Shire community assets director Phil Cantillon said bridge replacement works were necessary to address the deteriorating bridge condition, which if not replaced, would have over time cut off access for the local community.

“By delivery of this project, a safe and reliable access is now guaranteed for the local community long into the future,” he said.

Mr Cantillon said the works included: removal of the existing bridge structure; installation of twin 1500mm diameter concrete pipes; installation of concrete end walls at both inlet and outlet; and an additional layer of crushed rock over the new culverts.

Following feedback from residents, Mr Cantillon said the work methods on site were modified to limit the road closure to one full day.

“This is an outstanding result to be able limit the road closure for a project of this nature to the shortest time possible, which could not have been achieved without the support and patience of the local community and cooperation of the contractor,” Mr Cantillon said.