Load limit signs installed on bridges
Load limit signs have been installed on 25 road bridges across Pyrenees Shire to help protect these valuable assets.
For more information, see our Q & As below.
- Why are we putting load limits on some of our road bridges?
Pyrenees Shire has about 150 road bridges, of which 100 are over 50 years old. These older bridges were originally designed to carry a MS18 design loading, equivalent to a 33-tonne semi-truck combination. The current bridge design loading, SM1600, includes a design loading of over 150 tonnes. To help preserve these valuable older bridges, load limits have been put in place.
- How were these bridges selected?
Structural assessments have been carried out on several older bridges over the past seven years, as well as regular level two bridge condition assessments every four years and routine yearly level one inspections. These have all helped determine the current load limited bridges within the shire.
- What does Council plan to do long-term to protect and strengthen these bridges?
Council has a bridge strengthening program in place, with a long-term goal to remove all bridge limits by upgrading these bridges. Council will be actively seeking grants to undertake this work.
- What is Council doing to help affected residents, business owners and heavy vehicle operators?
Council wishes to work with the transport sector to find viable alternate routes so please contact the Council team for assistance. Council will also continue to advocate to the State Government for funding to ensure key goods and products in our municipality can be transported effectively.
- Why is the road bridge network so important?
Council’s road and bridge network is vital to enable connectivity and transport within our region, along with property access for our residents, particularly primary producers.
6. Which are the affected road bridges?
The bridges are on:
- Amphitheatre Road
- Avoca-Bealiba Road
- Back Cemetery Road
- Beaufort-Carngham Road
- Black Bottom Road
- Carngham-Trawalla Road
- Dawson Road
- Golf Course Road
- Haddon-Preston Hill Road (two)
- Landsborough-Elmhurst Road (two)
- Landsborough Road
- Lexton-Ararat Road (two)
- Mooramong Road
- Moores Road
- Nunns Road
- Pittong-Snake Valley Road
- Racecourse Road
- Waubra-Talbot Road (five)