Century-old Wagga bridge demolished in major Inland Rail milestone

WAGGA’S century-old Edmondson Street bridge was demolished during last weekend’s major rail possession, clearing the way for construction of a new, higher overpass as part of the Inland Rail project.

The demolition took place during a scheduled rail shutdown across the Albury to Illabo section from Saturday, February 28 to Sunday, March 1, with rail services resuming Sunday night once works were completed.

Inland Rail contractor Martinus Rail carried out construction activities at multiple sites along the corridor during the possession, with 346 workers deployed across 11 locations.

More than 100 workers were stationed at Edmondson Street, where crews worked around the clock to dismantle the bridge that had connected central Wagga for nearly a century.

To remove the structure, two 37-tonne excavators progressively demolished the bridge deck in three sections before crews dismantled the brick abutments and the central brick pier.

Photo: Inland Rail

Photo: Inland Rail

The removal of the overpass marks a major milestone for the Inland Rail program in the Riverina, as it prepares the corridor for double-stacked freight trains travelling between Melbourne and Brisbane.

Ed Walker, Inland Rail Acting Chief Operating Officer, said the demolition represented a significant construction achievement for the project.

“The demolition of the Edmondson Street bridge in Wagga Wagga is a significant construction achievement,” he said.

“We’re now getting on with the job of building a new, modern bridge, and we hope the community enjoys the benefits of the new design.

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“A lot of meticulous planning has gone into the demolition of the Edmondson Street bridge, and I’d like to commend everyone involved in the safe execution of this possession.”

The removal of the Wagga bridge follows months of preparation, including excavation of the approaches and structural works designed to allow the deck to be safely demolished during the possession.

Two 37-tonne excavators were used to demolish the bridge deck | Photo: Inland Rail

Martinus General Manager Major Projects Gavin Murphy said the successful demolition highlighted the scale and complexity of the operation.

“The successful demolition of the Edmondson Street bridge is a testament to the depth of experience within the Martinus team,” he said.

“Complex, high-intensity possessions like this require months of planning and seamless execution on the ground.

“A total of 346 people worked across 11 sites over the weekend, with zero incidents. Well done to everyone involved.”

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

The upgraded crossing is expected to improve safety, accessibility and traffic flow in the city.

Road closures around Edmondson Street are expected to remain in place for approximately 18 months while construction of the new bridge is completed.

The demolition formed part of the same possession that also saw significant works carried out further north in Junee, where Inland Rail crews installed new driver changeover platforms and progressed construction at the Kemp Street bridge site.