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One noisy bridge!

One noisy bridge!
Sean Car

The loud and clattering Evan Walker Bridge is again in need of refurbishment despite already having been upgraded in 2015.

The noise produced by the bridge’s decking has become unbearably loud over recent months, particularly at the northern end near Flinders Street Station.

This has sparked complaints to the City of Melbourne and was the subject of a few questions at last month’s Southbank Residents Association (SRA) annual general meeting (AGM) and the Yarra River Business Association’s (YRBA) July function.

The City of Melbourne’s principal project manager of city design, Steve Perumal, told audiences at both events that council was well aware of the noise and that it was currently working on plans to rectify the issue.

When asked about these plans and a potential timeline, council spokesperson Brian Wilson told Southbank Local News: “The City of Melbourne has received complaints about noise from the bridge decking. Our engineers are investigating the feasibility of possible solutions and we will provide an update in due course.”

In June 2015 the council invested $150,000 to refurbish and re-deck the bridge, which was closed for nearly a month while the maintenance works were carried out.

Once re-opened, council was immediately met with a surge of complaints about the bridge’s new decking, which consists of a composite material that produces a clattering sound when walked on.

The noise was so great that it was affecting business at the popular Ponyfish Island, which operates beneath the bridge. Management at the time told Southbank Local News that having a conversation was a challenge at the best of times!

Council later inserted more screws to reinforce the decking, which seems to have only temporarily addressed the noise problems.

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