INLAND Rail has finished all work on the Beaconsfield Parade bridge in Glenrowan, making it the second of 12 construction sites to be completed in the Beveridge to Albury (B2A) section of the project.
Adjacent to the siege site where infamous bushranger Ned Kelly took his last stand, the bridge connects Glenrowan’s key heritage landmarks via a network of pathways, improves vehicle and pedestrian safety and leaves a legacy which Ed Walker, Inland Rail Beveridge to Albury delivery director, believes is respectful of the town’s unique heritage.
Mr Walker said the works also included additional car parking in Woolshed Road and Siege Street, safer bus parking bays and landscaped gardens on both sides of the railway line.
Replacing the existing 60-year-old bridge, the new 145 metre open-span structure was required to provide sufficient height and width clearances to allow the safe passage of double-stacked freight trains which are to travel between Melbourne to Brisbane under the $10 billion Inland Rail project.
Mr Walker said construction partner McConnell Dowell will now demobilise plant, equipment and workers from the Glenrowan site, although locals will see tree watering and tidy up works continue over the coming months.
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He said B2A Tranche 1 projects at Barnawartha North and Glenrowan are complete, and Wangaratta and Seymour-Avenel Road projects are close to completion.
"Construction is about to commence on Tranche 2 projects at Benalla, Euroa, Broadford, Wandong, Tallarook and Seymour," Mr Walker said.
“Thank you to the Glenrowan community for their patience, hospitality and enthusiasm throughout the two-year construction period.
“They responded when we asked for their feedback and shared local knowledge during visits to our shopfront and information sessions.
“We understand the disruption and inconvenience caused during the construction phase, but the result is great for locals and the thousands of tourists who visit every year.
“It takes many hands to build something of this scale and we’re proud to have employed hundreds of local workers and contractors to get the job done.
“We’re thrilled the new bridge, and surrounding area can be enjoyed by locals and visitors for decades to come.”
Footbridge to go, underpass to open
WANGARATTA Railway Precinct’s new underpass will open to the public this week as Inland Rail works will see the takedown of the Docker Street footbridge.
McConnell Dowell will undertake day and night works during a track possession, between 6am Saturday, 22 March and 6pm Monday, 24 March, to remove the Docker Street footbridge in Wangaratta.
Pedestrian access across the station precinct will be via the new pedestrian underpass, which will open this Friday, 21 March.
During the track possession other works will include drainage excavations near the Docker Street footbridge area, landscaping within the station precinct and asphalting of the new platform.
Works following the possession from 25 March to 31 March will include landscaping, lift shaft and platform installation and underground utility works.
Wangaratta’s Green Street bridge will also undergo finishing touches and be closed with a detour in place during night works between Monday, 17 March and Friday, 28 March.
For any concerns or enquiries please phone 1800 929 244 or email inlandrailvic@inlandrail.com.au.
