Local

Major milestone as Junee’s Kemp Street bridge takes shape

Published

11 hours ago

July 28, 2026

Significant progress has been made on Junee's new Kemp Street bridge | © The Junee Bulletin

JUNEE’S Kemp Street bridge is beginning to take shape, with the main concrete piers and columns now complete and giant steel girders due to arrive in town next week.

After months of earthworks, piling and concrete construction, the new overpass is now rising above the rail corridor, marking one of the project’s most visible milestones since the original bridge was demolished in September last year.

In an update provided to the Junee Bulletin, Inland Rail said significant progress had been made on the bridge in recent months.

“Significant progress has been made on the piers for the main bridge spans, with major concrete pours completed,” an Inland Rail spokesperson said.

“Inland Rail is working on completing the headstocks in anticipation of installing the main bridge girders.

“The columns supporting the footbridge ramp have also been completed and are curing to achieve the required strength ahead of steel girder installation.”

Inland Rail said construction of the retaining walls along the eastern road approach was also progressing well, with work on the concrete barriers due to begin over the next two months.

The organisation also revealed crews encountered groundwater about 25 metres below ground during piling works, requiring the bridge piles to be extended to approximately 32 metres.

While this reduced productivity and caused minor delays during piling, Inland Rail said it had not affected the project’s overall schedule.

“The Kemp Street bridge is on schedule for completion by August 2027,” the spokesperson said.

When the original bridge was demolished in September 2025, residents were advised construction of the replacement bridge was expected to take approximately 18 months, indicating completion around April 2027.

The next major milestone will come on Monday night, August 3, when up to 10 escorted B-double trucks are expected to deliver the bridge’s massive steel girders to the site.

READ MORE: Bridge girders on their way

A 450-tonne crane will also arrive in Junee to unload the girders from the trucks and place them within the rail corridor ahead of their installation, which Inland Rail expects to commence in late August. Read more on that operation here.

Another major 96-hour rail possession has also been confirmed for September 12 to 15, during which crews will continue bridge construction while undertaking track realignment works, including the replacement of a crossover in the northern section of Junee Yard.

Planning is also continuing for the next stage of roadworks, including the reconstruction of the Kemp Street and Seignior Street intersection, as well as upgrades to the Ducker Street intersection.

Inland Rail says it is continuing to work with Junee Shire Council and Transport for NSW on the detailed planning and approvals required before major roadworks can begin later this year.

The final property required to make way for the bridge, on the corner of Ducker and George streets, was demolished in late May, paving the way for construction of a wider and safer intersection connecting the new overpass with Ducker Street.

Meanwhile, on the western side of the rail corridor, the intersection of Railway Parade and Kemp Street will soon close as crews begin raising the western road approach to the bridge.

Stage three traffic arrangements are scheduled to commence from August 18 and remain in place until the project is complete.

Heavy vehicles will continue to be diverted via Goldfields Way and Old Junee Road.

The former Junee Railway Station pedestrian footbridge also remains in place despite originally being earmarked for removal during May’s rail possession.

Inland Rail said the structure was not critical to the sequencing of works and would instead be removed during a future rail possession after higher-priority construction activities had been completed.

As at June 30, the Junee component of the Albury to Illabo project was 36 per cent complete, broadly in line with progress across the wider Albury to Illabo section.

For the latest project updates and works notifications, visit the Inland Rail website.