Wagga bridge to be demolished during 50-hour track closure

THE final section of Wagga’s Edmondson Street bridge — which has connected the city for a century — is set to come down this weekend, with the deck to be demolished during a major 50-hour rail possession.

Inland Rail has confirmed demolition works will be carried out continuously from 6am Saturday, February 28 through to 7am Monday, March 2.

Originally known as the Best Street bridge, the Edmondson Street overpass is being removed to make way for a new, higher structure designed to provide the clearance required for Inland Rail’s future double-stacked freight trains.

The replacement bridge will stand 2.8 metres taller than its aging predecessor, which had connected central Wagga since 1925.

Edmondson Street bridge pictured before its closure in 2025 | Photo: Inland Rail

Martinus Rail crews have spent recent months excavating the bridge abutments and reshaping the road approaches in preparation for the deck removal.

The crossing now presents a dramatically different profile to what motorists would have seen late last year.

Excavation of Edmondson Street bridge abutments | Photo: Supplied/Inland Rail

This weekend’s demolition will involve two 37-tonne excavators progressively breaking apart the concrete bridge deck in three sections.

Once the deck has been removed, crews will dismantle the central support column before completing the removal of the remaining abutments.

All demolition material will be transported off site to a licensed facility.

Edmondson Street bridge deck | Photo: Supplied/Inland Rail

Edmondson Street bridge abutments | Photo: Supplied/Inland Rail

The approach differs from the delicate three-day removal of Junee’s Kemp Street bridge in September 2025, where the steel superstructure was cut into sections and craned out piece by piece.

WATCH: Kemp Street bridge demolished after 80 years

Unlike Kemp Street — which spanned four tracks — the Edmondson Street bridge crosses a narrower two-track corridor.

Junee’s Kemp Street bridge deck was cut up and craned out in sections in September 2025 | Photo: Supplied/Inland Rail

The demolition in Wagga forms part of Inland Rail’s third major rail possession in the region since works escalated last year.

At the same time, crews in Junee will ramp up activity at the former Kemp Street bridge site, including piling works and demolition of remaining bridge structures, while construction continues on the town’s new driver interchange platforms north and south of the CBD.

READ MORE: Works to ramp up in Junee as ‘super shut’ looms

Once rebuilt, the new Edmondson Street bridge will feature two traffic lanes in each direction, along with upgraded pedestrian access including a more accessible footbridge on the eastern side and a wider footpath on the western side.

The bridge remains closed to traffic while construction continues, with Inland Rail previously indicating the crossing is expected to remain closed for approximately 18 months from the date of its closure.

Wagga residents seeking further information or project updates can visit the Inland Rail website.