Moyne Shire will carry out works on the 114-year-old bridge that require at least a two-week closure, anticipated to start on October 10.

Pedestrians will still be allowed across the bridge, but it will be closed to traffic due to the nature of the works.

Moyne Shire mayor Colin Ryan said several large timber bridge bearers and decking timbers needed to be replaced.

“Due to the location of these timbers and in order to complete these bridge works safely the bridge needs to be closed,” Cr Ryan said.

It is expected the bridge will be closed for a maximum of two weeks, but it may be closed longer if additional repairs are discovered.

Cr Ryan said the shire realised the closure would be disruptive, but it was unfortunately “not possible to perform the necessary repairs to the bridge with it remaining open to traffic”.

The bridge was built in 1902, replacing a previous structure that crossed the Moyne River from 1857 and linked Belfast with Belfast East, as the two areas of Port Fairy were then known.

Prior to that, passage over the river was via a ford (an underwater stone track that allowed wagons to cross when the river was low) located just north of where the current car bridge stands.

The present bridge survived the great flood of 1946, but has been the subject of innumerable patch-up jobs over its 114 years. 

Moyne Shire regularly monitors the bridge’s condition to ensure its stability. 

In 2012, the bridge underwent a detailed structural assessment and was given the OK for the next eight to 10 years, notwithstanding the need for regular maintenance works. At the time, it was estimated a new bridge would cost between $2-3 million.

Similar timber bridges usually have a lifespan of 60 years but can last much longer if well maintained.