▁himself ▁an ▁accomplished ▁engineer , ▁may ▁have ▁had ▁a ▁hand ▁in ▁it . ▁The ▁design ▁and ▁construction ▁work ▁probably ▁benef ited ▁from ▁the ▁knowledge ▁and ▁skills ▁obtained ▁by ▁the ▁Melbourne ▁and ▁Sub urban ▁Railway ▁Company ▁when ▁building ▁its ▁brid ges ▁at ▁C rem or ne ▁and ▁Haw th orn ▁in ▁ 1 8 6 0 - 1 . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 8 8 5 , ▁the ▁Haw th orn ▁Bridge ▁was ▁the ▁destination ▁of ▁Melbourne ' s ▁first ▁tram ▁service . ▁The ▁bridge ▁was ▁w iden ed ▁in ▁ 1 8 9 0 ▁by ▁extending ▁the ▁pi ers ▁and ▁ab ut ments ▁and ▁adding ▁additional ▁tr uss es . ▁ ▁Because ▁the ▁bridge ▁joins ▁two ▁municipal ities ▁and ▁is ▁crossed ▁by ▁a ▁tram way , ▁there ▁have ▁always ▁been ▁problems ▁with ▁management , ▁on - going ▁maintenance ▁and ▁fin ance . ▁In ▁ 1 9 2 8 , ▁when ▁funds ▁to ▁repair ▁or ▁replace ▁the ▁bridge ▁were ▁not ▁available , ▁the ▁Richmond ▁City ▁Engine er ▁declared ▁it ▁unsafe ▁and ▁closed ▁it . ▁ ▁The ▁State ▁Government ▁was ▁forced ▁to ▁act ▁and , ▁after ▁much ▁debate , ▁the ▁bridge ▁was ▁rep a ired , ▁strength ened ▁and ▁w iden ed ▁by ▁the ▁Rail ways ▁Const ruction ▁Branch , ▁using ▁in - s itu ▁electric ▁arc ▁w eld ing . ▁The ▁tim ber ▁deck ▁was ▁also ▁replaced ▁with ▁rein for ced ▁concrete . ▁Today , ▁the ▁deck ▁of ▁the ▁bridge ▁retain s ▁its ▁ 1 9 3 1 ▁appearance , ▁but ▁the ▁tr uss