Kemp Street bridge demolition to start Saturday morning

JUNEE will witness a once-in-a-generation moment this weekend as the old Kemp Street bridge is torn down after 80 years of service.

Inland Rail has confirmed that demolition will now start at 6am on Saturday, 13 September, with the bridge deck to be cut up and removed in sections.

The main southern railway line between Sydney and Melbourne will be closed for 60 hours to facilitate the works, with the rail possession scheduled to conclude at 6pm Monday, 15 September.

“A 60-hour possession sounds like a lot of time until you’re removing a bridge, running multiple work fronts, and handing the corridor back ready for trains,” said Treaven Martinus, CEO and founder of Martinus Rail.

“Every movement, every machine, every team has been planned down to the hour so we can get in, do the job safely, and get out on time.”

HOW IT WILL HAPPEN

Demolition will take place around the clock, with crews cutting through the asphalt and deck before each section is lifted out using heavy cranes.

The site will become a hive of activity, operating 24/7 until the bridge is completely removed.

Among the first items to be extracted from the bridge in the lead up to its demolition are the four historic lamp posts which have illuminated the crossing since it opened in 1945.

The lamps, positioned in pairs at either end of the bridge deck, will be delicately removed from their brick pillars and secured in custom-made storage boxes while the existing structure is dismantled and the new overpass is built.

Junee’s existing Kemp Street overbridge was officially opened on 8 March 1945 | Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

Inland Rail says the lamps will be thoughtfully incorporated into the new landscaping design for the area, and any that are not reused will be donated back to the community, with several local groups already expressing interest.

The iconic red bricks that form the existing bridge’s near-century-old abutments will also be salvaged and reused in the landscaping where possible.

“The Kemp Street Bridge has been part of Junee for decades,” Mr Martinus said.

“Our engineering team has done a great job designing a new bridge that meets modern standards while keeping the character of the old one alive for the community.”

READ MORE: Bridge lamps, bricks to be saved

Inland Rail has confirmed it will be recording a timelapse of the demolition, which is expected to draw large crowds.

Dozens of locals turned out to watch barriers be drawn across the bridge as the key east-west connector was closed on Friday night.

The crossing was closed early to allow sufficient time for site establishment and preparation for this weekend’s demolition, allowing works to begin as soon as the rail shutdown commences on Saturday morning.

Junee’s Kemp Street bridge closed to traffic at 6pm on Friday, 5 September, 2025 | Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

Junee’s Kemp Street bridge closed to traffic at 6pm on Friday, 5 September, 2025 | Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

The crossing is expected to be out of action for up to 18 months, while a taller, modern overpass is built in its place to allow double-stacked container trains to safely pass beneath.

For details on alternative transport during the closure, residents are advised to visit the Inland Rail website.

In addition to the bridge removal, the 60-hour rail shutdown will also allow crews to carry out additional track works, signalling works and geotechnical and environmental testing at sites spanning from Albury to Illabo.

“Delivering that much work in 60 hours takes rail experts who understand rail projects,” Mr Martinus said.

“The sequencing, the safety, the timing, it only comes together when you’ve got the right teams who know how to deliver under pressure.”

James Kennedy, Inland Rail’s Delivery Director of the Albury to Parkes section, acknowledged the impact of works and thanked the Junee community for its continued patience and support.

“We especially acknowledge residents, business owners, and road users for their cooperation during this important phase of construction,” he said.

“This planned window allows us to safely deliver a significant portion of the project’s scope as we continue progressing towards delivering Inland Rail south of Parkes by 2027.”

FRUSTRATION SURGES AT LEVEL CROSSING

While much of the town remains understanding of the temporary disruption, frustration is mounting over longer-than-expected stoppages at the Olympic Highway level crossing.

Up to an additional 2,000 vehicles per day are expected to be rerouted over the central crossing while the bridge is down.

Despite Inland Rail previously advising that the train driver changeover point would be relocated up the line to reduce level crossing hold times, the change has not yet taken effect.

Since the bridge’s closure on Friday night, there have already been several instances of road traffic being blocked for 15 to 20 minutes, with rail stacking leaving cars idling either side of the crossing.

In at least one case, the Kanaley Square crossing was blocked simultaneously, cutting the town in two.

Inland Rail has acknowledged the issue and says it understands the “significant frustration” it is causing, adding that it is actively working to resolve the matter.

The Junee Bulletin has reached out for further clarification, including why the changeover point was not operational prior to the bridge’s closure, and when residents can expect the situation to be resolved.