Work to install large steel supporting beams under the decking of South Warrnambool's Edwards Bridge will begin on Monday.
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Warrnambool City Council's infrastructure director Scott Cavanagh said the work was being done to extend the life of the bridge which was also known as Stanley Street bridge.
"We recently reported that remedial work would be required to make the bridge, which is more than 120 years old, serviceable for a few more years before a decision is made on a long-term solution," Mr Cavanagh said.
With the bridge nearing its used-by date, the council is looking at a number of options from a major revamp of the existing bridge to total replacement - works which would cost anywhere from $1 million to $3 million.
Five options are under consideration, two of which involve a major overhaul of the existing bridge at a cost of $1.06 million or $1.12 million.
Two other options suggest building a newer bridge to the north - one would mean keeping the old one as a fishing bridge and the other would require its demolition. They would cost $2.47 million and $2.69 million.
The fifth option is demolish and replace the bridge in its current location, which would cost $2.66 million but design works would push the cost towards $3 million.
The South Warrnambool Community Association has favoured the option of replacing the 125-year-old bridge with a look-a-like structure, similar to what they did when the Hopkins River bridge was replaced.
It didn't favour the option of having two bridges side-by-side.
In May, councillors voted to apply for government funding and will set aside $1.5 million over two years to pay its share.
If the funding application is successful, works would be carried out in 2021/2022.
In the meantime, work will be carried out on a $80,000 upgrade which for the first two weeks will take place underneath the bridge decking.
On August 3 work will start on the decking which will mean the bridge will have to be closed. "This will take up to four weeks, depending on the weather," Mr Cavanagh said.
"The bridge will remain open to pedestrian traffic."
The work is being carried out by local bridge builder Leon Van Kempen and the structural steel is being supplied by Warrnambool-based RA Steel.
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