$446k to fix ‘very noisy’ Evan Walker Bridge in Southbank

The boards on Southbank’s Evan Walker Bridge have become noisy again, despite at least $380,000 being spent on trying to fix them. Now the council is hoping a $446,000 repair job — at the ratepayer’s expense — will shut them up once and for all.

Stefan 4, blocks his ears from the noise of all the loose panels on the Evan Walker Bridge. Picture: David Caird

One of the inner city’s most troublesome footbridges is up for another repair job at a cost of $446,000 to ratepayers.

Heavy pedestrian traffic on Evan Walker Bridge at Southbank has led to creaky boards and noisy crossings for the vital link from Flinders St Station.

Gold Coast tourist Trish Jones said that the problem was obvious.

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“You’ve got to notice it, it’s very noisy,” she said.

Design student Osama Alawad said it almost seemed like the noise factor was built into the design.

“It could have been done on purpose, or it’s a mistake,” he said.

At least $380,000 has been spent on repairing the boards since the bridge opened in 1989.

This included $150,000 to replace the previous timber deck with fibre-reinforced polymer in 2015.

That same year, Melbourne City Council staff also removed thousands of “love locks” — padlocks attached by couples to symbolise their love on occasions like Valentine’s Day.

The padlocks were removed for safety reasons and turned over to artists who created love-themed works.

Southbank’s Evan Walker Bridge is up for another repair job at a cost of $446,000. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

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A city council spokeswoman said that the deck replacement works four years ago had been done according to the supplier’s specification.

“However, the geometry of the bridge and heavy pedestrian traffic has led to the planks flexing and creating noise,” she said.

“Around six months ago we successfully installed increased supports in a section of the bridge. In May 2019 we will start to extend these works for the entire length of the bridge.”

Heavy pedestrian traffic on Evan Walker Bridge at Southbank has led to creaky boards and noisy crossings. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Those works, costing $446,778, will involve sections of the bridge being closed but not totally shut down.

The spokeswoman said the works will be completed from under the bridge, so approvals from Parks Victoria will be needed for access from the Yarra River.

Originally called the Southgate Footbridge, in 2015 it was named after former state Labor planning minister Evan Walker who died that year.

Mr Walker, an architect, kicked off the redevelopment of Southbank in the 1980s and played a big role in preserving the city’s Victorian heritage.

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