KINGSTON Council will begin major works this month on a $750,000 to upgrade the Wells Rd Bridge over Patterson River.
The project includes strengthening of the substructure underneath the bridge, repainting of corrosion protection, resealing of the road, new line markings, routine repairs and a new set of crash barriers may also be installed if found to be necessary.
Kingston mayor Cr Tamsin Bearsley said the project was part of council’s $12million infrastructure capital works program to maintain and upgrade vital community infrastructure.
“The Wells Rd Bridge provides a vital transport route over the Patterson River and this project will ensure this vital piece of infrastructure continues to serve the community for decades to come,” Cr Bearsley said.
Council city assets and environment general manager Daniel Freer said as part of the works, the load limit signage for the bridge will also be amended to more accurately reflect the bridge’s capacity.
“In preparations for the works, council officers researched the history of the bridge and found that it had been historically designated a 6 tonne capacity bridge by the former Country Roads Board,” Mr Freer said.
“The bridge can in fact safely accommodate much greater loads and council will update the signage to a 24 tonne load limit. This will allow buses and council’s waste collection trucks to use the bridge but will still prohibit large semi-trailers from using the area.”
The first stage of the bridge upgrade works are expected to begin in early March and will take several weeks. Traffic across the bridge will not be impacted during this stage.
The second stage of works, including the new road surface and line markings, is expected to take place later in the year and will include some traffic disruptions.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 2 March 2016