A $50 million restoration of the San Remo Bridge has begun, with major works now underway on the only road connection between Phillip Island and mainland Victoria.
Also known as the Phillip Island Bridge, the crossing between San Remo and Newhaven carries around 3.5 million tourists each year and up to 15,000 vehicles a day.
The Victorian Government expects the restoration to take place through to mid-2028, with the bridge remaining open to motorists and pedestrians throughout construction.
What’s happening to the bridge?
The project will tackle deterioration caused by the bridge’s harsh marine environment, including steel corrosion and cracking in the concrete.
Crews will repair and protect the existing structure, install high-strength steel tendons on selected beams and build protective jackets around all of the bridge’s piers. Most of the work will happen underneath the bridge, meaning disruption on the road should remain limited.
Lane and pedestrian-path closures will occur when necessary, but authorities say they will keep them to a minimum. Marine vessels will also continue to have access beneath the bridge.
A temporary 62.5-tonne mass limit for heavy vehicles crossing the bridge came into effect on 3rd August and will remain in place until later in 2026.
Passenger cars, grocery deliveries and essential services are not affected by the restriction. The limit comes as crews carry out the early stages of the restoration, with heavy vehicle operators advised to check current restrictions before travelling.
A vital link for Phillip Island
Opened in 1969, the bridge has become an essential piece of infrastructure for the island, carrying residents, workers and millions of visitors across Western Port each year. It also supports water and sewer services to Phillip Island, making the crossing more than just a tourist route.
Victorian Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ros Spence said the restoration would protect the bridge’s future. “We’re getting on with the job of restoring the San Remo Bridge, keeping it safe and reliable for the millions of motorists who rely on it every year,” Spence said. “The bridge will remain open throughout works, with lane closures kept to a minimum.”
When will the works finish?
The $50 million project forms part of the Victorian Government’s Big Build infrastructure program and is forecast to be ready by mid-2028.
Authorities say crews will carry out the technically complex works with measures in place to minimise impacts on the surrounding marine environment and wildlife, in consultation with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Parks Victoria and Bass Coast Shire Council.
For Phillip Island, the plan remains strengthening the bridge now while keeping its crucial connection to the mainland open throughout the works.
