Inland Rail work to ramp up as third ‘super shutdown’ looms

JUNEE is set to mark another key milestone in the Inland Rail project later this month, with the next scheduled rail possession paving the way for significant progress at the Kemp Street bridge site and across the wider rail precinct.

Running from 6am Saturday, February 28 to 10pm Monday, March 2, the upcoming shutdown will allow intensified works at the Kemp Street site and the long-awaited construction of driver interchange platforms at both ends of town.

It will mark Inland Rail’s third major rail possession in Junee since Martinus Rail crews moved in to demolish the ageing Kemp Street bridge in September.

Activity at the bridge site will ramp up across the shutdown, with the demolition of remaining bridge abutments, pier and trussell footings scheduled for daylight hours on Saturday and Sunday.

Crews will also continue piling works for the new, higher overpass — designed to accommodate Inland Rail’s future double-stacked freight trains — while operating the main site compounds at both the bridge and Wright’s Oval.

Inland Rail has previously confirmed it will salvage and repurpose bricks from the original bridge as part of the final landscaping design, helping to preserve elements of the 80-year-old structure that once connected the town’s east and west.

Changeover platforms

Also progressing during the shutdown is the long-anticipated construction of Junee’s dedicated driver interchange platforms at both the northern and southern ends of town.

The platforms are being delivered as part of efforts to shift changeover activity away from the central level crossing, reducing pressure and potential delays at one of only two remaining east–west connections across the rail corridor.

The upcoming possession will allow Martinus crews to move in and construct the permanent infrastructure required to support driver changeovers in a controlled and safe environment.

The northern platform will be installed between Florence and Elizabeth streets, while the southern platform is being constructed near the corner of Hammond Street and Railway Parade.

The site of the northern changeover platform | Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

According to Inland Rail’s latest works notification, works are scheduled to involve piling and concrete footings, followed by the installation of steel platform structures, lighting, a small carpark, and associated safety elements such as bollards.

The construction follows months of preliminary works, with the project now entering its most visible and transformative stage.

Wider corridor works

The February possession will also support a broad program of construction activity along the Inland Rail corridor between Junee and Illabo, as well as around the Olympic Highway underbridge.

Crews will carry out track surfacing, rail adjustment and ballasting, alongside excavation, geotechnical investigations, and culvert and drainage upgrades.

Material will continue to be transported between stockpile locations and operational compounds at Illabo, Marinna, and Waterworks Road throughout the weekend.

Inland Rail has also advised that significant out-of-hours work will take place both leading up to and following the main shutdown, with night works scheduled across multiple sites throughout February and early March.

These works include vegetation trimming, piling, signalling, drainage, and geotechnical activities — with traffic management and lighting in place where needed.

To help manage impacts during this intensive phase, traffic controllers will be stationed where required, and Inland Rail says it will continue to use dust suppression measures and low-tonal reversing alarms to minimise noise and disruption for nearby residents.

Looking ahead

Once the possession wraps up, works will resume during standard construction hours (7am–6pm, Monday to Saturday), with continued progress planned across the Junee precinct.

This will include further piling at the bridge site, drainage and contamination testing, utility relocations, and possible asbestos removal, to be carried out by licensed contractors under strict safety regulations if required.

Residents seeking more information or wishing to raise concerns can contact Inland Rail on 1800 732 761 or visit inlandrail.com.au.