Fairbairn Dam Bridge to re-open with changed conditions

[Member]

Fairbairn Dam Bridge to re-open with changed conditions
20 Dec 2012 - SunWater

SunWater has announced that the Fairbairn Dam Spillway Bridge will re-open to traffic from 9am Monday, 24 December as a single lane bridge. The bridge will also now have a vehicle weight restriction of 18 tonnes and a vehicle speed limit of 20km/h.

SunWater Area Operations Manager, Tom Wallwork, said that extensive risk and safety assessments have been undertaken by the Department of Transport and Main Roads and a structural engineer from consultancy Parsons Brinckerhoff, and SunWater has been advised that the bridge can safely be used under strict new conditions.

"The bridge will be limited to one lane of traffic and vehicles with a maximum of 18 tonne gross limit will be allowed access to the bridge and restricted to a maximum speed limit of 20km/h.," Mr Wallwork said.

"These restrictions have been put in place to ensure public safety and to protect the bridge from damage from oversize vehicles irresponsibly using the structure."

Mr Wallwork confirmed that the Council, Police and SunWater will work together to ensure the new changes are understood and adhered to.

"A comprehensive traffic management plan has been put in place to ensure the continued safety of the general public including additional advisory signage of the load limits, the restriction of the bridge to one lane and defined parking arrangements at the spillway lookout," he said.