Minister for Transport Peter Batchelor announced in State Parliament last week the western alignment project would not go ahead.

Mr Batchelor said the western alignment site was significant to the Yorta Yorta people.

While recognising the importance of the bridge to the Echuca and Moama communities, Mr Batchelor said the State Government will now investigate other options for upgrading the route.

The plan would have seen the western alignment built off the Murray Valley Highway between Warren Street and Wharpilla Drive, providing a second crossing across the river.

Under Commonwealth legislation, consent of the Yorta Yorta Nation is required for the bridge to be built.

Yorta Yorta spokesman Henry Atkinson said the Yorta Yorta had been against the western alignment proposal for a long time. About 18 months ago the western alignment was adopted as a preferred model and recommended by an independent panel and later adopted by the State Government.

During the past 18 months members of the Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation and VicRoads have held regular meetings to reach a compromise on the project.

Mr Atkinson said the Yorta Yorta had no objections to a bridge going over the river, but any plans must protect the cultural heritage of the local indigenous people.

"It is very easy to relocate a building, but to try and relocate culture and history is impossible," he said.

Mr Atkinson said the two shires have not allowed time for VicRoads to investigate any other location for the bridge to be built.

"Our option has always been for a central alignment, where there would be no destruction to Yorta Yorta country." He likened the western alignment plan to the construction of roadworks in Gallipoli.

"If built our ancestral remains would be disturbed from their resting place." The mayors of Campaspe and Murray Shire described the announcement as a "a real disappointment and major setback for orderly planning".

The project was estimated to cost about $30 million.

In a joint statement, Shire of Campaspe mayor Judi Lawler and Murray Shire mayor Brian Sharp said a second river crossing had been on the cards for more than 25 years.

Shire of Campaspe mayor Judi Lawler said she hoped the decision would not cause backlash against the indigenous community.

"I would hate to think this would escalate and put a division between the community," she said.

VicRoads northern regional manager Mal Kersting said VicRoads had been working with the stakeholders to endeavour to reach an agreement.

"The Yorta Yorta have expressed that the western alignment is of particular importance as a site of cultural heritage," he said.

"We appreciate the importance of the crossing to the Echuca and Moama communities and will endeavour to proceed with the next steps as soon as possible."