Victoria Bridge likely to be closed for a week

25 August 2011

Cambridge's Victoria Bridge will remain closed for at least a week to allow for further investigations into a slip that may have compromised the integrity of the bridge supports.

Service Delivery Manager Barry Bergin said contractors had been working on repairing an earlier slip on the southern riverbank when the new slip was identified. The work being undertaken and the new slip are unrelated.

The bridge was closed to all traffic, including pedestrians, last night after a preliminary investigation recommended its closure as the latest slip was directly underneath the foundations.

As a precautionary measure it is appropriate the bridge is closed until these investigations are complete, he said.

Further survey work was being undertaken today and another geotechnical investigation would take place as soon as possible.

A drilling rig will be brought on site to drill a bore hole into the river bank behind the bridge to determine the soil profile and strength.

That work is expected to take a least a week.

Once we know the results of the investigation we will have a better idea as to how long the bridge might remain closed, said Mr Bergin.

At this stage there was no indication the bridge itself had been damaged, he said.

Victoria Bridge was built in 1906.

During its closure the only access from Leamington to the Cambridge town centre will be by using the low-level bridge that links Shakespeare Street to State Highway 1.

People are asked to be patient while using State Highway 1 as traffic volumes will be markedly increased.

Mr Bergin said investigation into a third bridge linking the two parts of Cambridge would be earmarked in the council's Long Term Plan.

An update will be issued on Monday.