TOODYAY community members have petitioned the Shire of Toodyay council to take immediate action to reopen the Slaughterhouse Bridge for residents and emergency vehicles.

The petition contained 150 signatures and was received by council at their July ordinary council meeting.

Residents were advised on November 13 last year that the bridge was to be closed temporarily but said they have received no update and had seen no action to repair the bridge since then.

Toodyay resident Michael Bell acted as the principal petitioner and said the continuing closure of the bridge impacted residents by adding extra travel time for emergency vehicles and made it impossible for people who used mobility vehicles to safely get to town.

Shire of Toodyay President Michael McKeown said Main Roads WA was progressing the preliminary design for a replacement bridge.

“In 1934, Slaughterhouse Bridge was destroyed during heavy rain that caused serious flooding in Toodyay and the bridge was replaced with the timber bridge that is now in place,” he said.

“In the 90 years that the bridge has been in use, gradual deterioration of the wooden structure resulted in its recent closure by Main Roads WA.

“The closure was gradual with decreasing load limits being put in place by Main Roads over the last few years.

“The shire, including both administration and council, has been listening to the community concerns about the closure of Slaughterhouse Bridge and also I note that it is not the shire that has closed the bridge but Main Roads WA.”

Mr McKeown said ABC previously reported on the concerns about the lack of access for emergency services being limited to West Toodyay because of the closure of the bridge but alternative routes have been in use because they exceeded the bridge weight limit.

“Emergency services vehicles had already lost access to Slaughterhouse Bridge as it was weight limited to 3.5 tonnes,” he said.

“So, emergency services… have been accessing West Toodyay via either Picnic Hill Road, off Toodyay-Bindi Bindi Road or Toodyay West Road off Julimar Road.

“Traveling at the speed limit to access West Toodyay via these routes can take just a few minutes longer than by using Slaughterhouse Bridge.”

Echo News has reached out to Main Roads to confirm claims made by Mr McKeown.

Mr McKeown said during the council meeting that the shire was continuing to work with Main Roads on funding opportunities and that Main Roads approved reopening the bridge for pedestrians.

“The Shire of Toodyay has been working with Main Roads regarding the design and possible funding sources for a new bridge,” he said.

“Once the design reaches a point the costings can be confirmed, the shire will be able to prepare an application for special project funding for a new bridge.

“The shire now awaits government approval.”

Works were underway to install barriers and reopen the bridge by the end of July for pedestrian access.