Bridge reconstruction from timber to concrete in 20 working days

The replacement of a timber bridge with a new concrete structure is not new. However, to replace a timber bridge 18.3 m long, 6.7 m wide and 4.5 m high (deck to low water level) using Council's own day labour force without them having had prior concrete bridge construction experience, is quite an achievement. Available funding of $42,000 from VicRoads was considered adequate to complete urgent maintenance works on the bridge sub-structure; however, on removing the timber deck, it was discovered that the structural problems were much more severe and would require extensive repairs to remedy the problem. After an immediate evaluation of the longer term financial benefits to be gained from reconstructing the bridge in preference to costly maintenance repairs, the decision was made to replace the existing timber structure with a new concrete bridge comprising concrete sub-structure, steel stringers and pre-cast concrete decking. Under the supervision and co-ordination of the works by Council's Construction Engineer, Council's day labour employees assigned to this task most effectively completed the reconstruction process in excellent time at a final cost of $134,000.