Work on the Inland Rail project has reached another milestone with the installation of the bridge beams over the rail corridor at Seymour-Avenel Road.
The last of six concrete beams was lifted into position by contractor McConnell Dowell late this month, enabling the remaining critical works on the 35-metre-long bridge to continue.
Each beam weighs around 85 tonnes and was lifted into place.
At Seymour-Avenel Road, Inland Rail is replacing the existing bridge with a higher bridge in the same location to allow sufficient clearance for double-stacked freight trains to pass safely.
The new bridge is 3.2 metres higher than the existing structure and flanked by 170,000 tonnes of locally sourced soil to create the approach embankments.
Inland Rail is a nation building project that will transform how goods are moved around Australia, first connecting Beveridge, Victoria to Narromine in New South Wales, by 2027 before later connecting to Kagaru in Queensland.
In Victoria, Inland Rail work will be delivered at 12 project sites between Beveridge and Albury to enable double-stacked freight trains to pass safely and ensure everyday products can be delivered faster.
Inland Rail Delivery Director Beveridge to Albury Ed Walker emphasised the importance of installing the beams at Seymour-Avenel Road.
“The installation of the bridge beams at Seymour-Avenel Road is another important step forward on the project,” he said.
“The first four Inland Rail sites including, Seymour-Avenel Road, Barnawartha North, Wangaratta and Glenrowan are progressing well and are on track to be completed in the new year.
“Preliminary and design work is ramping up on the next eight sites at Broadford, Wandong, Euroa, Benalla, and the Hume Freeway, Tallarook, and Seymour, with construction work set to begin next year.
“We thank the community for their patience and understanding as we press ahead with this nation building project.”