Victorian swing bridge's closure order extended

A month-long extension to the closure order has been put in place

A Victorian swing bridge will remain closed to vehicle traffic for a month while damage to its deck is further assessed.

A week's emergency closure order was put in place for Ramsey Swing Bridge on 23 January when the damage was first identified.

"Some defects" with timbers supporting the road surface on the northern side were initially found.

The Department of Infrastructure (DoI) said the extended closure would allow for assessment and survey works to be undertaken across the whole of the bridge and causeway.

The structure was opened in 1892

Data obtained from the enhanced investigations will inform further steps that may be required, as well as influence the decision about how long the bridge will need to remain closed to vehicles, the department added.

The structure, which opened in 1892, was given protected status in March 2023.

The harbour bridge remains open to pedestrians and cyclists, and it will swing open as usual in order to allow boats to pass through.

There may well be times when the bridge will be left in its "open" position for several hours, however, said the DoI spokesperson, in order to "facilitate aspects of the inspection work".

The department said it would provide a further update in "due course".