Repairs to the eroded beams of a timber bridge in Australia will ensure a hiking trail can be enjoyed for years to come, says Greater Shepparton City Council in Victoria, Australia.
The 10km Murchison Rail Trail is used by cyclists and pedestrians and includes a timber bridge over the Stuart Murray Canal, which dates back to 1889.
An eroded pier before remedial work on the Murchison Rail Trail Bridge. Credit Greater Shepparton City Council
The work included timber pile repairs, including pile ‘wrap and pour’, and the splicing in of new sections. Some crossheads and associated bolts and fixtures were replaced, and timber preservation was applied.
The timing of the works, during the southern hemisphere winter, was decided by the Goulburn-Murray Water’s winter irrigation shut-down period between May and August.
The renewed Murchison Rail Trail Bridge. Credit Greater Shepparton City Council
Australia’s rail trail network consists of shared-use paths for cycling, walking and horse riding on abandoned railway corridors. They are managed by local councils for use by the public.
