Three-year-old Alby spent more than 10 hours in Arnold Street at the weekend, watching on as cranes installed the new Bendigo hospital air link bridge.

“For the last three weeks he’s literally been counting down the days,” Mrs Hassell said.

“Alby’s just obsessed – he loves work sites.”

The enthusiastic youngster fell in love with cranes before his first birthday and wants to be a crane driver just like his “Poppy”, who works for Big Hill Cranes. And he looks the part too – in his hi-vis shirt, Hard Yakka shorts and (fake) steel boots.

On Friday, Alby was at the work site by 8.30am, and his family had to take it in shifts during the many trips.

Mrs Hassell said she was so impressed with the workers, who offered Alby sunscreen and water, and even gave him a hard hat to keep.

“They’ve all been great,” she said. “Aside from Big Hill Cranes, it's the first time he's been acknowledged at a work site and he was stoked.”