The historic access bridge at Malmsbury Reservoir will soon be trucked back to the site, ready to be reassembled following a million-dollar facelift.
The century-old metal bridge, which was removed in December for repair and refurbishment, is now ready to be returned to its home on the shore of the local water storage facility.
The structure’s foundations, cast iron supports and bluestone abutment have also been replaced as part of the project.
Coliban Water awarded the tender for the huge task to contractor Civil and Earth Australia in 2023.
The company will return the bridge in sections before reassembling it on site.
The bridge and the intake tower it services were constructed in 1906, 36 years after the reservoir was commissioned.
The intake tower captures water from the reservoir and sends it to a treatment facility, from where it moves into the general water distribution system.
Coliban Water said the “once in a lifetime” upgrade was commenced following close consultation with Heritage Victoria, Dja Dja Wurrung and other key stakeholders.
The repairs were ordered after parts of the walkway were found to have buckled and rusted over time, forcing the contractor to take extra care during the removal operation.
