Inland Rail Project Advances Construction of Three Bridges in Wagga Wagga

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 10, the Australian Inland Rail project completed a 48-hour railway possession in the Albury-to-Illabo section in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, concentrating work on three structures: the Edmondson Street Bridge, the Mothers Bridge, and the Cassidy Street Pedestrian Bridge. Contractor Martinus installed 26 precast concrete beams on the Edmondson Street Bridge while simultaneously carrying out ramp construction, rebar installation, and concrete works on the other two pedestrian bridges.

The Edmondson Street Bridge was the focus of this construction campaign. During the possession, the contractor used the railway closure window to complete precast beam lifting, creating conditions for subsequent bridge deck structural works. The new bridge will replace the existing structure and, by increasing the rail clearance beneath it, will enable double-stacked container freight trains to pass. Once completed, the bridge will feature two motor vehicle lanes in each direction, along with pedestrian pathways, widened footpaths, and anti-throw screens.

The Mothers Bridge is located near Wagga Wagga railway station, where the existing facility is being demolished and replaced in stages. This construction campaign continued work on the ramps for the new pedestrian bridge and completed preparatory work ahead of demolition of the old bridge. The new bridge will feature a raised deck structure, accessible ramps, handrails, and anti-throw screens, with a temporary passage maintained for pedestrians crossing the rail corridor during construction.

The Cassidy Street Pedestrian Bridge simultaneously underwent ramp and main structure construction, including formwork installation, rebar tying, and concrete pouring. The new bridge also features a raised structural design with accessible ramps and protective facilities to accommodate the line conditions following rail capacity expansion and to improve walking conditions for residents along the corridor.

This concentrated construction campaign is part of the Albury-to-Illabo section upgrade of the Australian Inland Rail project. The section provides infrastructure conditions for double-stacked container train operations by modifying bridges, railway yards, and line clearance conditions. During the construction period, more than 564 workers were engaged across various work sites throughout the Albury-to-Illabo section, accumulating approximately 10,170 work hours. Under the project schedule, the Mothers Bridge and the Cassidy Street Pedestrian Bridge are expected to be completed in the first half of 2027, and the Edmondson Street Bridge is expected to enter service in the second half of 2027.