Steels Creek Bridge closed for renovation

By Kath Gannaway
THE SHIRE of Yarra Ranges will spend $150,000 on major improvements to the Pinnacle Lane Bridge in Steels Creek.
Work was set to begin rebuilding the ailing bridge last week and will be closed for 16 weeks.
The bridge will be closed for 16 weeks from March 3 while the major renovations take place.
Yarra Ranges’ councillor Jeanette McRae said recent inspections of the bridge, built in the 1960s, had revealed termite damage and significant structural problems.
“The new bridge will be stronger and more durable, providing improved safety for motorists,” Cr McRae said.
Works will include major repairs to the bridge’s foundations, strengthening the main bridge beams, replacing the existing timber deck with a concrete deck and the timber railing with steel railing, and installing a guardrail on the approaches to the bridge.
Cr McRae said residents and property owners on Pinnacle Lane had been informed of the bridge closure and advised of an alternative route.
She said while the closure could cause some short-term inconvenience to residents, the new version would much more readily meet the community’s needs and improve safety.