An abseiling team has helped in completing repairs for the Bridge Inn Road Upgrade between Mernda and Doreen.
Focusing on repairs under the historic bluestone bridge over Plenty River, the trio spent a week working on the bridge’s piers and crossheads with support from three project team members.
The goal of the repairs was simple – to make a safer, more reliable travel option for users of the path, ensuring that cyclists and pedestrians have access to a high-quality path.
Completing the works via abseiling allowed for a more flexible working environment, preventing the need for complex scaffold systems and allowing the workers to avoid the overhead powerlines.
Major Road Projects Program Director Dipal Sorathia stated that the use of the abseiling team, provided by Melbourne-based API Rope Access Services, was a ‘smart solution’.
“Using abseilers to complete repairs under the bluestone bridge was a smart solution to the unique challenges presented by the location of the bridge. It saved time while allowing our crews to work safely,” he said.
“With these repair works now complete, pedestrians and cyclists can look forward to safe and reliable travel over the bridge once we have finished repurposing it as a shared path as part of the Bridge Inn Road Upgrade.”
The works are the first major repairs to take place under the bridge since 1975, with hopes that they guarantee many years of additional use.
The Bridge Inn Road Upgrade includes the construction of a new four-lane bridge for vehicles which are set to open later this year.
Major Road Projects Victoria and construction partner Laing O’Rourke are delivering the upgrade.
More information about the project is available at www.bigbuild.vic.gov.au/bridgeinn.
