The Bridge Inn Road Upgrade has uncovered a hidden part of Doreen’s infrastructure history dating back over 150 years.
An environmental advisor working on the project was first to notice the edge of what turned out to be a seven metre long timber structure as it emerged during excavation works near the Yan Yean Pipe Track.
The timely sighting allowed the project team and heritage consultant Biosis to investigate, document and create a 3D model of the time-worn object from thousands of photographs.
Heritage experts confirmed the structure to be a timber culvert, thought to date back to the 1870s.
The team believes it was built to divert surface water following the construction of an aqueduct at Yan Yean.
At the time, Melbourne was still growing strongly on the back of the Gold Rush and burgeoning agriculture, wool and manufacturing industries. With the booming economy came infrastructure such as the aqueduct, culvert and roads as the city expanded.
After alerting Heritage Victoria to the discovery, recording it in detail and receiving relevant permissions, the project team removed the culvert to analyse it further and allow excavation works to continue.
Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV) program director Dipal Sorathia said finding a piece of history was an added bonus to the work being completed.
“We were pleased to be able to investigate and document the historic 1870s culvert as part of our work to deliver the Bridge Inn Road Upgrade,” he said.
“Recording heritage items and values is an important part of our work as we continue delivering the project, which will make travel safer and more reliable for all the road’s users.”
The Bridge Inn road upgrade project is adding extra lanes in both directions between Plenty and Yan Yean roads.
Other improvements include upgrades to key intersections and the construction of safety barriers and shared walking and cycling paths to improve safety and connectivity.
The upgrade is said to reduce congestion and improve travel times while boosting safety and connecting communities across Melbourne’s growing outer-northern suburbs.
