Community
16 May, 2025
Bridge to close in 2029
ALLANSFORD’S Ziegeler Parade bridge is set to close in four years’ time.
The bridge, which, according to Warrnambool City Council officers is nearing the end of its life, will close to traffic on December 31, 2029.
In the meantime, council will spend up to $400,000 on rehabilitation works to prevent further deterioration of the structure and to ensure safe passage continues.
At a recent council meeting it was also decided that council would continue with a single lane, 14 tonne load limit on the bridge and would work with the Department of Transport and Planning to seek to reduce the speed limits on the Princes Highway around Allansford to improve safety around ‘significant intersections’ in to and out of Allansford.
“This bridge is nearing its end-of-life and it is recommended that it close at the end of 2029,” chief executive officer Andrew Mason said.
“I believe we need to now focus our efforts, as an organisation, on working closely with the Department of Transport to improve the safety of access and egress from Allansford on to the Princes Highway.”
Cr Vicki Jellie said while there had been “a lot of talk these last few months” surrounding the need for rehabilitation works on the bridge, she believed those works should have been carried out well before now.
“It appears this bridge is certainly approaching its end-of-life and we need to plan for this,” Cr Jellie said.
“We need to work through several issues to make sure there is safe access to and from the highway for traffic and the community living in and moving through the Allansford area.”
Cr Jellie also highlighted the need for council to continue its discussions with the Department of Transport and Planning to ensure an “upgraded and better safety configuration access to Garabaldi Lane from the Princes Highway and Grauers Road where it meets the highway.”
In response to the recommendation to close the Ziegeler Parade bridge in 2029, Cr Jellie said she was in favour.
“Putting off this decision, I believe, only impedes working with the department and getting the best outcomes for those access points.”
Cr Debbie Arnott acknowledged that “many people in Allansford would still like a new bridge” however she believed it was imperative that council worked closely with the department to look at access in and out of the town.
“Keeping that bridge (Ziegeler Parade) open would not fix any of those traffic concerns,” she said.
Cr Matt Walsh believes the greatest issue is the entry and egress from Allansford.
“There is certainly a lot of work to be done between now and 2029 and to be honest I’m not confident that what we need to do will be done in that time,” Cr Walsh said.
“The closure of the bridge is not the most important outcome; getting in and out of Allansford is dangerous and we need to solve that problem.
“Getting off the highway at Grauers Road is dangerous and getting back on to the highway is also not great.
“I’ve travelled to Allansford from the Speedway in complete darkness and I’ve seen lots of close calls. Real strategic thought needs to go into this.”
Cr Willy Benter also encouraged the council to have discussions with the Allansford school community.
“There needs to be some consultation with the school community because this affects them also,” he said.
“Closing the bridge is a definite no from me. As far as I’m aware no funding has been sought for the necessary work to extend its lifespan; there is an opportunity for the community to approach organisations for funding and I hope they will seek that.”
Cr Richard Ziegeler said he opposed setting a firm date for the closure.
“I’m a cynic,” he said. “We could lobby for years and get nothing. I understand it’s at the end of its life but nothing has happened for many, many years in terms of repairs.
“Until we have a firm commitment from the Department of Transport for the works I don’t think we should set a firm date on its closure.”
Cr Billy Edis acknowledged the bridge closure was a contentious issue but he agreed with setting an “end date.”
“I believe by setting this date it will push the government for a resolution within that timeframe,” he said.
“The main issue is the entrance off the highway.”
Mayor Cr Ben Blain expressed his concerns about the structural integrity of the bridge.
“We need to ensure that every car or vehicle that goes over that bridge is safe and that’s our paramount concern,” he said.
“These rehabilitation works are critical, as is the need to ensure that every vehicle and every pedestrian can move in and out of Allansford safely.”
Councillors also voted to lobby for upgrade improvements to the design layout of the intersections at Garabaldi Lane/Princes Highway and Grauers Road/Princes Highway.
It was also moved that the Ziegler Parade bridge be closed on December 31, 2029 unless closure was otherwise required before this date due to deterioration of the bridge to a level no longer deemed safe for access to continue.
