Inland Rail: Junee footbridge set to fall in longest shutdown yet

THE pedestrian footbridge that has stood over Junee’s rail corridor for generations is set to be removed within days, with the century-old structure set to come down during the town’s longest rail shutdown since the Kemp Street bridge was demolished.

The 96-hour rail possession will run continuously from 7am Saturday, May 2 through to 7am Wednesday, May 6, with around-the-clock works scheduled at multiple sites across the corridor.

It will mark Inland Rail’s fourth and longest possession in Junee since Martinus Rail crews moved in to tear down the ageing Kemp Street bridge in September.

Night works will begin from Friday evening between Junee and Illabo and at the Olympic Highway underbridge ahead of the full shutdown.

In a development many in the community have been waiting for, Inland Rail has confirmed the long-disused century-old footbridge at Junee Railway Station is scheduled to be removed during the track closure, more than 20 years after it was decommissioned.

Photo: Facebook/Phillip Buckley

Photo: Junee Remembers/Peter Hook

For generations, the structure carried passengers across the rail corridor, linking the station’s main platform with the now-unused island platform, which fell out of regular passenger use decades ago as rail services were scaled back.

Its removal will mark the end of a long-standing feature of Junee’s railway precinct and reveal an unobstructed view south of the station not seen in decades.

An early photograph of the footbridge, which can be seen crossing the corridor in the distance, believed to have been taken sometime in the 1920s | Photo: Original source unknown

Photo: Junee Remembers/Peter Hook

Photo: Junee Remembers/Peter Hook

Bridge build ramps up

At the Kemp Street bridge site, construction will run non-stop throughout the possession, making it the most significant period of works in Junee since the original bridge was removed.

Seven months after the 80-year-old overpass was demolished, the replacement structure is now entering its next major phase, with permanent foundation piles installed to support both the new bridge and a dedicated pedestrian footbridge.

Inland Rail released new flyover footage of the site on Tuesday, April 28, showing the clearest view yet of progress on the new bridge.

During the May shutdown, crews will move into the vertical construction phase, with concrete bridge piers set to be built, a key milestone that will see the new bridge begin to rise above the rail corridor.

Once complete, the new overpass will stand significantly higher than its predecessor, allowing clearance for Inland Rail’s future double-stacked freight trains while improving safety and connectivity for the community.

Detailed design showing what the new Kemp Street bridge will look like once complete in 2027 | Source: Supplied/Inland Rail

Lower abutments to stay

Inland Rail also revealed on Tuesday that the lower sections of the original red-brick abutments, which had carried the former Kemp Street bridge deck for nearly a century, will be retained and reinforced, rather than fully removed.

The eastern abutment, including its distinctive staircase, has already been largely dismantled in recent weeks, marking one of the most visible changes since the bridge deck was removed.

September 15, 2025 — Eastern abutment exposed | Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

February 14, 2026 — Eastern abutment excavated | Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

April 28, 2026 — Eastern abutment dismantled, lower portion remains | Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

Inland Rail says the remaining brickwork will be stabilised using soil nailing techniques, allowing elements of the historic structure to be incorporated into the final design.

Demolition of the abutments had previously been delayed to prioritise piling works and other construction across the corridor, including the demolition of Wagga’s Edmondson Street bridge.

In coming months, retaining walls will be constructed to integrate the new bridge with the Ducker Street intersection.

November 14, 2025 — Eastern road approach from Ducker Street | Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

April 28, 2026 — Excavation on the eastern approach | Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

An Inland Rail spokesperson said it was encouraging to see visible progress on such a significant piece of infrastructure.

“This is a significant piece of infrastructure for Junee, and it’s great to see the new Kemp Street bridge beginning to take shape,” the spokesperson said.

“By incorporating modern engineering solutions, we’re future-proofing the rail corridor while also delivering safer, more accessible connections for the community.”

Work on the line from Junee to Illabo in December 2025 | Photo: Inland Rail

This weekend’s shutdown, just nine weeks after the previous possession, will also see a broad range of works carried out across the Junee to Illabo corridor.

Continuous construction will take place between Junee and Illabo, as well as around the Olympic Highway underbridge, marking a clear escalation in activity as the Inland Rail project gathers pace.

Inland Rail says scheduled works may be cancelled or adjusted at short notice due to weather or other factors. If this occurs, works will be rescheduled and affected residents will be notified in advance.

For further information on what to expect during the upcoming shutdown, visit the Inland Rail website.