Projects

Skenes Creek bridge improvements, Great Ocean Road

We’re strengthening the bridge at Skenes Creek on the Great Ocean Road to make your journey safer and more reliable.

Project status:

Underway

The Skenes Creek bridge strengthening project is delivering a strong, safer structure for future transport needs, and improving connectivity and safer journeys along the Great Ocean Road for locals, visitors, and industry.

Update – May 2026

Construction started in September, 2025 and is expected to be completed in mid-2026.

General Disruptions

While the works are underway, there will be some disruptions on the Great Ocean Road, however traffic flow will be maintained at all times.

Crews will be on site from Monday to Friday, between 7am and 5.30pm, with the possibility of some weekend work and nightworks.

A 40km/h speed limit will be in place to keep drivers and workers safe. At the bridge, one-lane, two-way traffic management will be in place. Traffic controllers will be on-site while works are underway to assist with shuttle flow. Temporary traffic lights will manage traffic at other times.

Please note: dates and timeframes of these works are dependent on a range of factors, including favourable weather and site conditions.

All motorists are reminded to follow the directions on road-side signage. Please allow additional travel time as minor delays are expected.

Thank you for your patience while we complete this essential project.

Bus stop relocation

The Skenes Creek Valley Road/Great Ocean Road bus stops have temporarily relocated during the project. Temporary bus stops are located 500m east, towards Lorne, on the Great Ocean Road (both directions).

Services impacted include school buses, V/Line Melbourne to Warrnambool and PTV bus route Colac to Marengo (via Apollo Bay). Disruptions information will be updated here.

Closures

Temporary closures will be required on Skenes Creek Valley Road (at Great Ocean Road) and Old Coach Road (at Skenes Creek Road intersection) while major works are underway. Short detours will be in place.

Beach car park

As part of construction activities, and for the safety of crews and the public, the Skenes Creek beach car park will be closed for most of this project. Limited parking may be available at times. Pedestrian access to the beach will be maintained. Please follow all directional signs and traffic management.

Access

While access to residential properties and businesses will be retained, there will be periods of disruption to local roads and traffic flow.

The contractor will contact impacted residents and businesses directly should access be disrupted.

Pedestrian access to the beach and across the creek will be available while work is underway. Temporary pedestrian detours may be required at times. Signage and traffic controllers will be in place as required to guide pedestrians.

What we’re doing

The bridge on the Great Ocean Road over Skenes Creek was built in 1979. Since then, the bridge has aged and now requires essential maintenance and strengthening works to ensure communities and industry along the Great Ocean Road can stay connected.

These works will include:

strengthening the bridge deck
resurfacing the road over the bridge deck
constructing a pedestrian bridge, separate from the vehicle bridge
rebuilding the road on the approaches to the bridge
installing new safety barriers and refreshed line marking
installing a pedestrian refuge, west of the bridge
upgrading the bus stops to meet current standards.

Benefits

We’re strengthening the Skenes Creek bridge to:

ensure the structure is safer and more durable for future transport needs
increase the lifespan and reliability of the structural crossing, so that load limits don’t need to be imposed in the near future
improve connectivity and safer journeys along the Great Ocean Road for locals, visitors and industry

Funding

This project is funded under the Victorian Government’s Structure Renewal Program, as part of the commitment to upgrade several bridges on the Great Ocean Road and inland routes.

For more about other projects along the Great Ocean Road and inland routes as part of the Victorian Government’s $255 million investment which are vital connections for tourism, freight and local communities, visit the Great Ocean Road page.