An efficient road transport system is vital to the economic and social prosperity of Victoria.

Roads make a significant contribution to the quality of life in our communities. Improved access and mobility for all road users depends on a safe and reliable road network, which is environmentally friendly, provides good value for money and is sustainable.

Bridges are critical links in the road network
They carry roads over any obstacles in their path, such as rivers, rail lines or other roads. But if they are not managed properly they can become an obstruction to movement along a route - the weak link in the chain. This can result in road closure, disrupting peoples travel plans, or lead to restrictions on fully laden freight vehicles, causing longer freight routes to be taken with consequential increased costs of goods and damage to the environment.

Victoria's Arterial Bridges aims to:

• optimise accessibility, mobility and freight efficiency in a safe and environmentally friendly manner for the Victorian community
• ensure that the bridge assets are managed in a manner that balances road transport needs with maintenance funding.

These aims will be delivered through a framework for improving the performance of bridges across the following outcome areas:

• carrying 21st century vehicles
• life cycle management for maximum benefit
• ensuring safety
• protecting our heritage.

This strategy will assist VicRoads in the management of structures on the declared arterial roads system. The principles may also be applied by Local Government to the Management of structures on local roads.

How to obtain a copy of Victoria’s Arterial Bridges
You can download a copy of the strategy from more information (below) or contact the:

VicRoads Bookshop
Fax (03) 9854 2468
Email: bookshop@roads.vic.gov.au
Phone: (03) 9854 2782 and (03) 9854 2049