Bridges return to the former railway line

For the past 56 years since the former railway line closed in the Heathcote to Knowsley area, only failing timber piles from those railway bridges were the visible reminders of these once important structures. Now the bridges are being returned, yet not the original Victorian Railways designed timber bridges to carry railway steam engines and carriages! These bridges are modern designed galvanised dipped steel frame bridges, which will soon take users of the O’Keefe Rail Trail across those various gullies and waterways.

Crane contractor assists with the assembly of the steel bridge frames at Knowsley. Photo: Garry Long

These last five trail bridges for the new trail are part of the on-site construction work currently being carried out by contractor Open Space Infrastructure Australia. With the placement of the last steel sections in the One Eye Forest a week ago, by local contractor Central Victorian Cranes, the next stage of bridge construction follows.

A new Knowsley bridge will now shadow the remnant timber piles from the original railway bridge. Photo: Garry Long

The ‘fit out’ work of the remaining bridge elements, such as concrete abutment walls and decking, is now underway. With the completion of each new bridge, this becomes another link in the extension of the O’Keefe Rail Trail from Axedale to Heathcote.