General News
21 January, 2026
A short detour for a long future
FOR generations, the bridge over Mount Cole Creek at Warrak has stood quietly on the Buangor–Ben Nevis Road, a modest timber crossing bearing the weight of farm machinery, school buses, emergency vehicles and the everyday movements of rural life. Built more than 70 years ago, the ageing structure has long exceeded the lifespan originally envisaged for it, its weathered timbers a reminder of an era when traffic was lighter, vehicles smaller and the demands on rural infrastructure far less intense. Last week, that familiar crossing closed to all traffic as it entered the final chapter of its working life, making way for a completely new bridge designed to serve the region for the next century.
The $1.3 million project, delivered by Ararat Rural City Council, will see the old bridge removed entirely and replaced with a prefabricated, dual-lane structure capable of safely accommodating modern traffic volumes and heavier vehicles.
Council expects the closure to last around seven weeks, weather permitting, with works scheduled for completion by late March.
Council chief executive Dr Tim Harrison said that while closing a bridge was never ideal, the replacement could no longer be delayed.
“There’s never a good time to close a bridge, but it’s a priority that we replace it for safety reasons,” Dr Harrison said, “We really can’t wait any longer.”
He said the use of prefabricated construction would help reduce the impact on the community.
“The use of a prefabricated bridge will significantly reduce the amount of time the road needs to be closed,” he said.
The new bridge represents a substantial upgrade on its predecessor, with wider lanes, improved load capacity and an engineered lifespan of at least 100 years. Its prefabricated design allows much of the structure to be built off-site, reducing construction time and minimising disruption for road users and surrounding communities.
For those who rely on the crossing daily, the works mark a long-anticipated moment.
Local Warrak farmers have watched the bridge age year by year, mindful of its limitations during wet conditions or when moving heavy equipment across Mount Cole Creek.
While detours will add time to some journeys over the coming weeks, many see the project as an investment that will safeguard their livelihoods and community connections for decades to come.
Council has worked with emergency services, school bus operators and local residents to manage the closure, and is providing ongoing updates through a project noticeboard at Warrak Hall and via its online engagement portal.
The bridge replacement is also the first stage in a broader program of road and bridge upgrades along the Buangor–Ben Nevis Road corridor.
Council plans further works, including strengthening another bridge over Billy Billy Creek and reconstructing sections of the road, beginning with a 1.7-kilometre stretch south of Warrak before expanding to a full 10-kilometre upgrade.
As the old timber bridge is dismantled plank by plank, it will take with it decades of quiet service — the rumble of grain trucks at harvest, the morning rush of school buses, and countless unremarked crossings that stitched the district together.
In its place will stand a new structure, built not just of steel and concrete but of foresight, ready to carry the next hundred years of stories across Mount Cole Creek.
Read More: Ararat