Port Augusta bridge closed after engineer warns it could fall into the harbour
A MAJOR pedestrian bridge in one of South Australia’s biggest regional cities is at risk of imminent collapse and has been closed — forcing families to dice with death on a nearby freight road.
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PORT Augusta’s recreational bridge is in danger of collapse and has been closed, forcing pedestrians to risk their safety on the city’s heavy freight causeway.
The Great Western Bridge was closed by Port Augusta Council on Wednesday, after an engineer declared the structure, built in 1927, was at risk of falling into the harbour.
Pedestrians are now using a pathway on the Joy Baluch AM bridge — a major road link used daily by thousands of motorists and trucks travelling on the National Highway.
One resident, who wished not to be named, had used the recreational bridge weekly for walks with her grandchildren and feared for their safety on the main causeway.
“I won’t allow any of my grandchildren to walk over the new bridge now, it is too narrow and there’s no safety railing,” the resident said.
“When the big trucks drive by, there is a drag when they go past and with a small child, especially on a bike, it is extremely unsafe.”
Mayor Sam Johnson said they had fielded numerous complaints by residents, who said they were risking imminent dangers by crossing Port Augusta’s main causeway.
“Someone will get injured, there is no ‘ifs’ about it,” Mr Johnson said.
“You’re an arm’s-length from road trains going past. We’ve had multiple complaints from people who walk their children across to go to the special school.”
Mr Johnson said the council appealed for funding from Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan in 2014, when they were notified the bridge needed urgent “patchworks”.
The $6 million project received in-principle support from the Federal Government for half the funding under its Bridges for Renewal program.
“We needed the State Government to provide half the funding and he (Mullighan) said no because if he did it for one he’d have to do it for another,” Mr Johnson said.
“If this was Adelaide, you’re sure as s**t this would have been dealt with and money would’ve been immediately provided.”
Mr Johnson has again appealed to the minister to fund half the project, estimated to now cost $7.5 million, and the other half would be sought through round three of the federal program.
Mr Mullighan said contrary to people’s views, the bridge had been council-owned since 1978 and was its responsibility.
“It’s very difficult for the Government to support one particular bridge for one particular council, else we be requested by every other council to fund their bridges as well,” Mr Mullighan said.
“Both I and the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure have offered to work with the mayor to see how we can support their efforts to get the bridge repaired.”
Mr Mullighan said the Government looked after more than 1500 bridges across SA, but this was one of the “several-thousand” council-owned bridges eligible for federal funding.
Mr Johnson said the council could fund repairs to the abutments, but without funding committed to replace the length of the bridge, it would be considered a waste of resources.
Speed restrictions on the Joy Baluch AM bridge were yesterday put in place due to the increase in pedestrian traffic.