A bridge on Valley of the Giants Road has been closed to traffic after heavy rain at the weekend left it in serious disrepair, forcing an urgent road closure near Denmark.
The Shire of Denmark announced the closure of the area, spanning Valley of the Giants Road from west of Pascoe Road to east of Vigus Road, on Tuesday afternoon.
The shire said the bridge was unsafe to use after being damaged by recent heavy rains.
A Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson said 64.6mm of rainfall was recorded in Denmark over the weekend.
Residents and visitors needing to access properties west of Vigus Road can still enter Valley of the Giants Road via its western entrance from South Coast Highway.
The shire acknowledged the closure would cause significant disruption to residents and visitors but said restoring access was a priority.
Roadside signage is being installed while local stakeholders including emergency services brigades are being notified of the closure and detour.
The road is expected to reopen on October 6, provided repairs proceed as planned.
The bridge is already earmarked for replacement with $1.5 million in funding secured for its reconstruction.
Design plans for the new bridge are currently awaiting approval from Main Roads WA, with the shire intending to push for construction to begin as soon as possible once approval is granted.
Residents with questions or concerns can contact the Shire of Denmark on 9848 0300 or at info@denmark.wa.gov.au.
Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.
Sign up for our emails