Long road for bridge repairs

By Paul Dunlop
A BROKEN bridge has Bunyip residents bristling.
Paul and Heidi Kramer run a horse agistment property where horses including Caulfield Cup winner Elvstroem have spelled when not racing in Melbourne.
But the Kramers say business has not been the same since a bridge on the corner of Evans and BunyipModella Road was damaged several weeks ago.
Cardinia Shire Council closed the bridge which crosses the Bunyip River for safety reasons after a truck smashed into guard rails.
The council has said the bridge will be fixed — but residents in the area may have to wait at for least another month before it opens to traffic again.
Mrs Kramer said she and her husband and other people with agistment properties in the area needed the bridge fixed as soon as possible.
Farmers and parents taking children to schools were also doing it hard without the bridge, she said.
“It’s very frustrating, people around here are livid,” Mrs Kramer said
“Because the bridge is out, trucks have to go around the long way and with the price of fuel they’re reluctant to do that.
“It is also a much bumpier road and the horses freak out. Their owners don’t want them getting bounced around.
“We’re talking about thoroughbred, cityclass racehorses and the road is like a rollercoaster.”
Cardinia Shire manager of governance and communications Doug Evans said the damage to the bridge was quite severe.
“The bridge was closed for safety reasons,” he said.
“Getting the repairs underway has been delayed as a thorough inspection of the structure had to be undertaken and then specifications prepared for the repair work.
“A contract was let last Friday for the repairs to be undertaken and these will cost in the order of $100,000 and will take approximately six weeks to complete.
“Amongst other matters a new guard rail has to be specially manufactured and this will take approximately three weeks,” Mr Evans said.
The council has said it made repairs to roads, bridges and other infrastructure a priority in this year’s budget.