A pedestrian bridge in northern Tasmania will remain closed indefinitely after engineers found it was not safe to reopen, leaving some residents cut off from their local bus stop.
West Tamar Council shut the Stony Creek footbridge at Gravelly Beach on June 3 after a council officer noticed changes in the bridge surface during an inspection the previous Friday.
Structural engineers have since confirmed the bridge cannot reopen.
“Engineers have undertaken an inspection of the pedestrian bridge at Stony Creek and advised council that the structure must remain closed until a more comprehensive review is completed,” the council said in a statement.
The closure has separated parts of the community, with residents on the southern side of the creek unable to reach the main bus stop on the northern side.
The council said it was in talks with bus operator Manion’s Coach Services to set up a temporary stop on the southern side.
It said officers were “actively exploring all viable interim options to restore pedestrian connectivity while a long-term solution is identified”.
The footbridge had passed its previous annual inspection, with no issues raised at the time.
The council warned people against using the nearby vehicle bridge as a shortcut, despite temporary speed limits on the road.
“Under no circumstances should pedestrians use the vehicle bridge to walk across Stony Creek,” it said.
The two-lane vehicle bridge remains open and unaffected.
The council said it would provide regular updates as the review continued and a permanent fix was found.
