Craigieburn residents call for bridge at the Aitken Creek crossing to stop flooding

THE feasibility of building a bridge to overcome flooding at a pedestrian crossing in Craigieburn will be known in March.

Russell Poulton and Laurence Hubbard couldn’t use the crossing last April due to flooding. Picture: Kylie Else

THE feasibility of building a bridge to overcome flooding at a pedestrian crossing in Craigieburn will be known in March.

The Leader reported last April that the Aitken Creek bridge at Linear Reserve, between Axminster and Clovelly drives, had been permanently flooded and clogged by sludge and branches after heavy storms.

The state of the bridge had left mobility scooter users stranded.

RELATED: Flooded Aitken Creek bridge in Craigieburn leaves mobility scooter users stranded

Hume sustainable infrastructure and support director Peter Waite said the council was working with Melbourne Water to determine the viability of replacing the crossing with a pedestrian bridge.

Mr Waite said the outcome of the investigation was expected in March.

Melbourne Water regional services (west) team leader Jesse Barrett said that in the interim the authority was removing vegetation and sediment in the creek.

The flooded pathway back in April. Picture: Kylie Else

“We expect that these combined works will provide some immediate improvements in the flooding impacts on the bridge while we actively work with City of Hume to investigate long-term improvement options,” he said.

Mr Waite said when the clearing works were complete the council would remove the temporary barriers.

Craigieburn resident Adam Clark, who regularly uses the walkway, said its current state was disgraceful.

Mr Clark said people had waited far too long for the issue to be fixed and has backed calls for a bridge over the creek.

“Rather than looking like a flooded footpath, it now resembles a pathway built right through a duck pond,” he said.