Mcfeeters Road Bridge Renewal
About this project
We're replacing an old load limited vehicle bridge over Spring Creek on Mcfeeters Road, approximately 5km north of Beechworth, with a new structure to meet current standards and design loads.
The project will also involve upgrading the road approaches, road safety barriers and a short section of the walking trail under the bridge. The bridge provides important access to rural properties, and for visitors to the popular Woolshed Falls tourist attraction and beyond into the Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park.
Why is this project being undertaken?
The existing bridge was constructed in the 1940's and is approaching 90 years old, which is remarkable considering the lower quality materials used around this time.
However, the bridge is reaching the end of its useful life with all components now in a very poor condition. Structural investigations, conducted as part of Council’s bridge asset management program, suggest that even if significant and costly maintenance improvements were carried out to extend the life of the bridge, it would still not allow the removal of the current 16 tonne load limit restriction. In fact, it is more likely that the continued deterioration in condition will require future reductions in load capacity, further impacting road users.
It is for these reasons that Council has determined to replace the bridge with a new structure to better meet the needs of the community.
Site constraints mean that the upgraded bridge will remain a single lane, with the proposed new structure to offer an increase to a compliant 4.5m trafficable width, which will provide much needed safety clearance for vehicles and vulnerable road users. In addition, the removal of load limits will provide improved transport options for properties and greatly improve access options for fire response equipment into the national park.
How will it be funded?
The project is reliant upon a successful outcome from an application to the Federal Government’s Safer Local Roads & Infrastructure Program (SLRIP) submitted in June to fund 80% of the costs. The balance will be funded from an allocation within Council’s capital works program.
| Funding Contributor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Australian Government –(decision pending) | $640,000 |
| Indigo Shire Council | $160,000 |
| TOTAL | $800,000 |
What is happening and when?
Funding announcements, for the current application, are not anticipated until around Oct-Nov 2025. In the interim, Council is continuing to refine the concept design in anticipation of a favourable grant outcome.
A key component of this refinement involves Council needing to undertake preliminary works to investigate the ground conditions at the site. This involves drilling deep test holes either side of the bridge, from road level, which will require the road to be closed for two consecutive days, during working hours.
During this time road users will need to use alternative routes to gain access beyond the bridge. Council has engaged geotechnical consultants to undertake these works, and we are anticipating completion over two days in the first half of September, ahead of the busier school holiday period. A message board will be placed at the Beechworth-Chiltern Road end of Mcfeeters Road advising of actual dates closer to the time.
The eventual bridge works will involve a complete removal of the old structure, construction of a new bridge along with associated retaining walls to better support the approach roads. A small amount of tree removal and tree pruning near the bridge is unfortunately necessary to allow construction, which will be kept to a minimum.
Timing of the eventual bridge works is an important consideration for the project delivery team, with construction, and the associated access restrictions, to be scheduled to the lower fire danger periods and outside of peak tourist times.