FREIGHT trains have been given a green light with the installation of a higher bridge on the Broadford-Wandong Road.
Inland Rail is celebrating the lifting of the new bridge into place at Wandong as a significant milestone for the Beveridge to Albury (B2A) project.
It says the new higher bridge would allow sufficient clearance for double-stacked freight trains to use the line. Vehicles and pedestrians will have greater safety and connectivity across the railway corridor when the bridge is operational, with the Rail Street intersection upgraded to include a new roundabout and wider lanes.
Prefabricated in Adelaide and assembled onsite, the new bridge is 35m long, 14.5m wide and made up of 41 main and cross girders. Weighing about 246 tonnes, the entire bridge was lifted into place by a 600-tonne mobile crawler crane.
The existing Broadford-Wandong Road bridge will be demolished once the new bridge is open to traffic later this year.
The successful installation of the bridge is significant for Inland Rail on the path to completing the Beveridge to Parkes sections by 2027.
Inland Rail Beveridge to Albury Project Director Russell Hamilton said:“The installation of the bridge is an exciting milestone for the project. Once complete, it will provide a much safer crossing for pedestrians, with the shared user path separated from the traffic.
“New connecting pathways will make it easier to access the extended community spaces and gardens. Road users will like the wider lanes and an improved Rail Street intersection with the addition of a new roundabout.
“We would like to thank the Wandong community for their ongoing patience and support while these important works are carried out.”
