Opened by the Hon. J A Rafferty, Minister for Transport, 25 November 1976, the bridge was the first of four bridges to be built as part of the freeway bypass of Orbost. Construction cost $2.4 million. This construction was an important development along the Princes Highway corridor through East Gippsland. The original highway approached the Snowy River at a very poor alignment, and several serious accidents had occurred at the Orbost end. In times of heavy flood, the highway on both sides of the river had been cut by floodwaters and during the 1971 floods, the highest ever recorded, the river was a mile wide at the crossing. Construction of the bridges commenced in January 1975, with an expectation to open the bridge across the Snowy River as soon as possible. Less than two years later, on 25 November 1976, the bridge across the Snowy River was opened to traffic, allowing the old bridge to be demolished. The remainder of the Orbost Bypass, both the floodplain crossings and the eastern section around the township itself, was declared ‘Princes Freeway’ and opened to traffic in December 1977. (ref http://mrv.ozroads.com.au) The Country Roads Board was the government authority for the construction and maintenance of main roads in Victoria between 1913 and 1983. It was succeeded by the Road Construction authority on 1 July 1983 and later merged with the Road Traffic Authority on July 1 1989 to form the Roads Corporation. James Cameron, an Orbost farming pioneer and Member of the Legislative Assembly, fathered the Country Roads Board. The opening of this Snowy River Bridge was an important development in the accessibility to the township of Orbost.Three coloured Country Roads pamphlets for the 'Princes Freeway - Orbost Section". On the front is a coloured photograph of the new construction over the Snowy River at Orbost. Inside is a program for a ceremony for the opening of the new Snowy River Bridge. There is also a black print map of the project.

Black and white photograph showing the hand rail and plaque 'Country Road Board 1970'bridges, main road, lower plenty, plenty river

Two Ariel Square Four Mark IIs with riders on country road. Circa 1954police vehicles; wireless patrol; motor transport branch; motor transport section; motor cycle patrol; police motorcycles; ariel square four motorcycle

This photograph is of the low level bridge across the Bemm River about 50 km east of Orbost in East Gippsland.This is a pictorial record of the 1913 low level bridge across the Bemm River, East Gippsland.A large black / white photograph of a horse - drawn wagon on the low level Bemm River bridge. In the foreground on the bridge is a dog.on back - "Country Roads Board Princes Highway low level bridge"

Colour photographs of the concrete bridge over laker Daylesford built by the Country Road Board in 1929.lake daylesford, bridge, concrete bridge

Newspaper articleContract to supply concrete to site of a new bridge between San Remo and Newhaven for Country Roads Board.local history, documents, newspapers, bridges, phillip island, black & white newspaper clipping, country roads board

Black and white photograph of an adult person with young child walking along tree lined country road."Eva Simper and Harold Wishart Morchup Road, in front of Simper's".eva simper, harold wishart

Collection of Black & White photographs of the construction of the second Phillip Island Bridge by the Country Roads Board. Contractor John Holland & Co Pty. Ltd.Black & White photographs of the Construction of the Phillip Island 2nd Bridge in 1969 351-01: View from centre of suspension bridge. 351-02: Concreting Pier 8 351-03: Concreting Pier 8 351-04,05 & 06: Metal beams. 351-07: Driving sheet Piling. 351-08:Reinforcement in caisson (watertight structure)351-01: Country Roads Board Victoria, Aust. Negative No. 67-37 - Phillip Island Bridge Project. Shire of Bass 352-02: As above - Negative No. 67-38B 352-03: As above - Negative No. 57-38D. 352-04: Negative No. 67-223A. 352-05: Negative No. 67-223B 352-06: Negative No. 67-223D 352-07: As 352-01-03 plus Negative No. 67-312 352-08: As above - Negative No. 67-272.phillip island bridge (1969), country roads board, sasha stark

Newspaper articleArticle stating Country Roads Board had begun to prepare plans for the San Remo Phillip Island Bridge.local history, documents, newspapers, bridges, phillip island, black & white newspaper clipping, mr dunstan premier of victoria, country roads board

Second black and white copySepia photograph of Harbecks Store, Esplanade, showing a team of horses, also wagon and horses in front of the store. Five men with horses, one man in doorway of feed store. Lakes Entrance VictoriaCunninhame, corner of Esplanade and Carpenter Street, 1890c - Tambo Shire collection, Country Roads.township, retail trade, transport, animals

Slide. Kurting. Three men walking along a country road that is being constructed as there are some earth moving machines in the background.slide, bendigo, kurting., kurting.