475 tonnes of steel and concrete removed from Junee’s Kemp Street bridge

APPROXIMATELY 475 tonnes of steel and concrete were removed from Junee’s Kemp Street bridge, and 5,000 tonnes of ballast laid during track works between Junee and Illabo, as part of Inland Rail’s 60-hour possession over the weekend.

The high-intensity operation saw more than 230 personnel on-site in Junee, as Martinus Rail crews worked around the clock to dismantle the town’s 80-year-old bridge.

All six spans and five trestles were successfully removed, with teams working methodically to slice through the near-century-old structure, pausing constantly to reassess, recalculate, and problem-solve.

Photo: Supplied/Inland Rail

Photo: Supplied/Inland Rail

Concrete was removed from the bridge’s four outer spans, while the steel superstructure was cut into manageable sections.

The central spans, which sat directly above the tracks, were then craned out in segments and carefully lowered to the ground, where they were broken down for removal.

WATCH: Kemp Street bridge demolition

Inland Rail said the demolition involved approximately 100 tonnes of steel and 375 tonnes of concrete, with nearly 5,000 work hours logged across the three-day blitz.

Photo: Supplied/Inland Rail

Photo: Supplied/Inland Rail

It was a delicate operation, made more challenging by unexpected materials, like railway tracks cast into the concrete, surfacing mid-cut.

READ MORE: Kemp Street bridge demolished after 80 years

Inland Rail Delivery Director for the Albury to Parkes section, James Kennedy, said it was a significant and highly technical achievement, made possible by detailed planning and close collaboration between teams.

“The highly technical and delicate demolition of the 80-year-old Kemp Street bridge in Junee is a significant construction achievement,” Mr Kennedy said.

“We hope the community enjoys the benefits of the new bridge design.”

Kemp Street bridge — Sunday afternoon, September 14, 2025 | Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

Photo: Supplied/Inland Rail

Beyond the bridge works, the weekend possession also delivered substantial upgrades along the corridor between Junee and Illabo, where more than four kilometres of track were slewed to widen the gap between adjacent rail lines.

More than 5,000 tonnes of ballast were laid during the works, which also included the replacement of two culverts.

Photo: Supplied/Inland Rail

Inland Rail said more than 300 workers in total were engaged across the Albury to Illabo section during the possession, including 230 workers in Junee.

Works were also carried out in Albury, where construction teams worked a total of 1,500 personnel hours, installing new drainage pipes below the future dive site at the Riverina Highway and re-routing conduits for signalling and communication cables.

READ MORE: Bridge down — what’s next?

Martinus Rail CEO and founder Treaven Martinus hailed the operation a huge success, saying it reflected the capability and professionalism of the delivery teams.

“Our people once again showed what can be achieved when expertise, preparation and teamwork come together,” Mr Martinus said.

“Successfully delivering these critical works under possession highlights the capability of our teams and partners, and gives us real momentum as we move into the next phase of Inland Rail.”

Mr Kennedy agreed, adding that delivering such a broad scope of work in a short window required methodical preparation and strong collaboration with Martinus Rail.

“I’d like to commend everyone involved in the planning and safe execution of this possession,” he said.

“We also extend our thanks to the local communities for their patience and understanding while these important construction activities were underway.”

The site for the former Kemp Street bridge — Monday evening, September 15, 2025 | Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

The main southern rail line reopened on Monday evening, with work at the Kemp Street site now returning to standard construction hours — 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and 8am to 6pm Saturday. No works will be carried out on Sundays or public holidays.

Road closures are expected to remain in place for approximately 18 months, while construction of the new bridge progresses.

For more information on detours and community transport options, residents are encouraged to visit the Inland Rail website.