Wagga Wagga reaches key Inland Rail milestone with removal of Edmondson Street bridge

The track possession from Saturday 28 February to Sunday 1 March saw Inland Rail contractor Martinus completing work across multiple sites on the Albury to Illabo section and re-opening the railway line to rail services on Sunday night.

Nearly 350 workers were engaged across the Albury to Illabo section during the possession, including over 100 workers on site at Edmondson Street for round-the-clock construction activities.

To demolish the Edmondson Street bridge, two 37-tonne excavators progressively demolished the bridge in three sections. After the deck was removed, crews dismantled the brick abutments followed by the central brick pier.

Once complete, the new Edmondson Street bridge will deliver significant benefits for the community, including a modern and safer design with two traffic lanes in each direction. The bridge will also feature a more accessible pedestrian footbridge on the eastern side, and a new wider footpath on the western side.

Road closures in Wagga Wagga remain in place for approximately 18 months. For community transport options, visit the Edmondson Street bridge page.

Ed Walker, Inland Rail Acting Chief Operating Officer, said:

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

“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.

“We also extend our thanks to the Wagga Wagga community for their patience and understanding while these important construction activities are carried out.”

Gavin Murphy, General Manager Major Projects, Martinus, said:

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

“This milestone clears the path for construction of a new, modern bridge that will significantly improve safety, accessibility and traffic flow for the Wagga Wagga community.”