Report finds Kirwans Bridge structurally compromised and unsafe for vehicles
Kirwans Bridge will remain closed after an engineers’ report found it was structurally compromised and not safe for use by vehicles.
The structural assessment was completed after a major flood in October 2022. The bridge has been closed since the flood, while Strathbogie Shire Council waited for a comprehensive assessment by its insurance company.
“We needed to ensure the bridge was safe to open to traffic, and this report has found it is not,” Mayor, Cr Laura Binks, said.
“It states extensive structural repairs and strengthening works must be completed before the bridge is safe to reopen.
“We understand the impact of this news to the Kirwans Bridge community. We know how important access across the bridge is to residents and visitors.
“We want to reassure our community our goal is for a sustainable, long term, future for Kirwans Bridge.”
Cr Binks said through Council’s work with the Kirwans Bridge Community Panel, two options had been identified for the future of the bridge and work was already progressing to design and cost these options.
The two options have been identified for the future of the bridge, are:
- A new replica bridge (with pedestrian and cycling access), or
- Extensive structural repairs and strengthening works to the current bridge.
“When we understand the costs, there will be further community consultation to determine the best option – to ensure the bridge remains open and is safe for the next 50 plus years,” Cr Binks said.
“We will then need to advocate strongly for Victorian and Federal government funding to complete the works and we ask for the community’s support which will help strengthen our efforts, meaning greater chance of success.”
In the meantime, an Extraordinary Council Meeting has been called for Tuesday, April 11 for Council to consider the approval of the variation to the Weir Rd design and cost, which will ensure the access route is safe and assessable to all traffic.
Report findings
The report has found the bridge should remain closed to traffic until extensive structural repairs and strengthening works are carried out. While the assessment was completed in late December, Council received the report on Friday, March 10 and was given permission for public release on Thursday, March 23.
The report can be read in full here and the recommendations are below:
- Based on FMG Engineering’s inspection and observations of the extensive rot and decay of structural timber members, surface corrosion to structural steel elements, and broken/damaged timber deck members, it is FMG’s opinion that the subject bridge structure is structurally compromised and is not safe for use by vehicular traffic.
- However, it is FMG’s opinion that the observed structural damage to the subject bridge is not a result of a one-off flood event such at the Victorian floods in October 2022. In FMG’s opinion, based on the observations of advanced timber rot and surface corrosion, the damage has occurred over a long period of time.
- Whilst in FMG’s opinion, the observed damage to the subject bridge has not been caused by the flood event, it is FMG’s opinion that the flood event has exacerbated the damage.
- FMG recommend that the subject bridge should remain closed to vehicular traffic until such time that extensive structural repairs/strengthening works are carried out. Furthermore, FMG recommend that the extremely decayed timber beams of the disused lane structure are removed to reduce the risk of the potential of timber beams falling into the water and causing potential injury to person travelling by boat underneath.
Read our FAQs below or download the PDF version.
FAQs
The bridge will remain closed until funding is secured and works are complete. We want to ensure the bridge meets the need of the community for many, many years to come.
With the community panel we have identified two options that will ensure the bridge remains open and is safe for the next 50 plus years. These being a new replica bridge or extensive structural repairs and strengthening works to the current bridge.
The work on the design and costing of these options is underway.
Council will need funding from the Victorian and Federal governments to complete works to Kirwans Bridge. It means we will need to advocate strongly to government to share the importance of this bridge to the community and secure funding.
Community support in our advocacy will help strengthen our efforts, meaning greater chance of success.
The report has found the bridge should remain closed to traffic until extensive structural repairs and strengthening works are carried out. The report can be read in full here, and the recommendations are below:
- . Based on FMG Engineering’s inspection and observations of the extensive rot and decay of structural timber members, surface corrosion to structural steel elements, and broken/damaged timber deck members, it is FMG’s opinion that the subject bridge structure is structurally compromised and is not safe for use by vehicular traffic.
- However, it is FMG’s opinion that the observed structural damage to the subject bridge is not a result of a one-off flood event such at the Victorian floods in October 2022. In FMG’s opinion, based on the observations of advanced timber rot and surface corrosion, the damage has occurred over a long period of time.
- Whilst in FMG’s opinion, the observed damage to the subject bridge has not been caused by the flood event, it is FMG’s opinion that the flood event has exacerbated the damage.
- FMG recommend that the subject bridge should remain closed to vehicular traffic until such time that extensive structural repairs/strengthening works are carried out. Furthermore, FMG recommend that the extremely decayed timber beams of the disused lane structure are removed to reduce the risk of the potential of timber beams falling into the water and causing potential injury to person travelling by boat underneath.
Absolutely. The full report can be found on our website here.
We know we will need funding from the Victorian and Federal governments to complete the extensive structural repairs and strengthening works needed to reopen the bridge, or to build a new one.
The bridge is insured against physical loss, destruction or damage, which includes by flood for $4.5 million, but we need to be REALLY clear the payment received by Council is still being negotiated.
The engineer’s report found the damage to the bridge was not caused by the flood event, but the flood event exacerbated the damage. Like all insurance claims, we’re negotiating this payment now.
We’ve been working with assessors to determine the impacts of the October 2022 flood on the bridge and progress a payment outcome. With the engineers report now complete, we are negotiating the amount Council will receive. This will be based on a determination of the impact of the flood on the bridge.
Any payment received will be used to fund part of the upgrade works to the bridge. However, we can’t say strongly enough, it is unlikely we will receive the full $4.5 million, and it will not cover the works needed to ensure the bridge is safe to reopen to vehicles and/or pedestrians.
Works will be reliant on securing funding from government.
Council commissioned a report to ensure the waterway was safe to reopen. This report was commissioned for the purpose of opening the waterway, not the bridge to traffic.
It has no impact on the decision to reopen the bridge. This decision is made solely on the report commissioned by our insurers, that was commissioned for the purpose of opening the bridge to traffic.
Council cannot reopen the bridge without the insurer’s approval.
Our works team has put Weir Rd at the top of its priority list!
We encourage anyone wanting to report any issues to visit our website and submit a request.
Alternatively give us a call on 1800 065 993
If Council endorses the variation at the April 4 meeting the current financial budget allocation (22/23) is $1,063,117.
The uncommitted budget available is $246,196.91, and a variation of $1,084,800.08 is required to complete works.
This means the additional budget required is $838,603.17, which, if approved, can be accommodated within the current capital works budget utilising funding Council has allocated to flood recovery funding.
There is no link between closing the bridge and funding becoming available for the Weir Rd upgrade.
We need your help, and we need to work together.
We know the future of the bridge will need State and Federal government financial assistance and lobbying together will be far more successful.
We ask you to work with us to lobby for this important funding.