By KATH GANNAWAY
WORK has started on the demolition of the historic bridge over the Yarra River at Woori Yallock.
VicRoads advised last week that from today (Monday, 27 June) work would start on removing the 90-year-old bridge which is the earliest known through-type timber truss bridge, supported on concrete piers, in Victoria.
It was classified by the National Trust in 2011 as of historic, technical, social and aesthetic significance at a regional level.
The bridge on the Healesville-Kooweerup Road has been out of use since 2003 when the new bridge was built.
VicRoads Metro East director of operations, Michael Barker, said the bridge had to be removed because of safety concerns, and there were road closures scheduled over the next two weeks.
“The bridge is in a state of disrepair and possess a safety risk to the public, including the risk of damaging the existing bridge on Healesville-Kooweerup Road if it was dislodged during a storm,” he said.
“We have worked closely with the Yarra Ranges Council and the National Trust to ensure the works are undertaken sensitively to preserve any viable remaining historic components of the bridge.”
A Statement of Significance from the Victorian Heritage Database Report details the history of the bridge, saying it was designed by T. H. Upton and D. V. Darwin, constructed by the Country Roads Board and funded under the Commonwealth Development roads program to open up the area for agricultural development.
Upton and Darwin went on to head the roads boards in New South Wales and Victoria respectively.
Historically, it was rated as regionally significant as a prime example of modern bridge-building of the time.
“For many years, all new bridges built over the Yarra River were built using the latest adopted methods, as a showpiece for the decision makers of the day,” the statement says.
“The Woori Yallock Bridge constitutes rare, possibly unique, evidence of a standard CRB 60ft span timber truss bridge with concrete piers, round log timber beam approach spans, and timber abutments”.
Aesthetically, it was deemed significant because of its picturesque setting in a tourist area.
Steel beams from the bridge that were made in Great Britain will be donated to the Yarra Valley Railway.
VicRoads is advising road users that there may be delays and detours between 7am and 5pm Monday to Saturday on Healesville-Kooweerup Road between Dalry and Alsopps roads, and that electronic signs and traffic management will be in place to keep motorists informed.
