A two tonne limit and 10km/h speed limit has been in place since last Friday, when an engineers’ inspection found urgent action was necessary to mitigate the risk of potential collapse.

Council staff have been onsite around the clock to ensure adherence to the load limit, and school buses are collecting and dropping off school children on the southern side of the bridge.

The latest engineers’ report yesterday proposed a number of options to reinforce the bridge, including installation of four steel columns inserted through the deck.

Works will start on Friday and are expected to take two to three days to complete.

General Manager Jason Linnane said Council staff would provide assistance to a contractor to undertake the works.

“The reinforcing, once complete, will allow the bridge to carry GVM vehicles, meaning most of the people on Mirannie Road can go back to their usual daily activities,” he said.

“Council appreciates this situation is an inconvenience for the people who use Brookers Bridge, particularly those who live in that area, and we are acting as quickly as possible to fix the issue as best we can.

“Council is working on the detailed design for a replacement bridge, and the project will be expedited to enable tenders to be called within four to six months, with a construction period of six months.

“It is expected the interim arrangement will be in place until completion of the replacement bridge anticipated in June 2018.”