Inland Rail has revealed the date for when the remaining section of the Edmondson Street Bridge will be removed. Photo: Supplied.
After three months of closure, the Edmondson Street Bridge has finally been given a demolition date.
Inland Rail has announced the bridge deck demolition will take place from 28 February to 2 March, marking the end of the 100-year-old bridge.
It will eventually be replaced by a taller bridge, allowing for new double-stacked trains to travel underneath.
The trains will take to the tracks as part of the 1600 km Inland Rail freight route from Brisbane to Melbourne.
The bridge deck will be removed using two 37-tonne excavators, which will progressively demolish it in three sections.
After the deck is removed, crews will dismantle the central support column, followed by the abutments. All demolition materials will be safely removed from the site and transported to a licensed facility.
Inland Rail Acting Chief Operating Officer Ed Walker said the demolition of the bridge was a turning point for the Inland Rail project.
“The upcoming track possession marks an important milestone for Inland Rail in southern NSW, enabling us to continue progress on this nationally significant project,” he said.
“In Albury, planned works include replacing the top chords of the Murray River bridge and undertaking preparatory works for track lowering at the Billy Hughes Bridge.
“In Junee, excavation and piling works will continue ahead of the construction of the new Kemp Street Bridge. Additional works will be carried out at the Junee driver interchange platforms.
“Once completed, the platforms will allow train driver changeovers to occur away from the level crossing, reducing disruption for the Junee community.”
Mr Walker thanked Wagga residents for their patience and resilience during the works to the bridge, which are expected to be completed in mid-2027.
“We thank local communities for their continued support and patience, and acknowledge the cooperation of residents, businesses and road users during this important phase of works,” he said.
“During this planned window, we’ll safely deliver key works, including the demolition of the Edmondson Street Bridge in Wagga, as we move closer to completing Inland Rail south of Parkes in 2027.
“Once complete, the new Edmondson Street Bridge will deliver significant benefits for the community, including a modern and safer design with two traffic lanes in each direction.
“The bridge will also feature a more accessible pedestrian footbridge on the eastern side, and a new, wider footpath on the western side.”
