Kemp Street bridge set for demolition in Inland Rail construction surge
A major construction effort this weekend will see the Inland Rail project undertake round-the-clock works on the Albury to Illabo section in NSW.
September 9, 2025
A 60-hour track possession will close the Australian Rail Track Corporation main railway line from Sydney to Melbourne from 6am on Saturday 13 September to 6pm Monday 15 September.
The track closure will allow rail infrastructure contractor Martinus Rail to carry out works on several sites across the Albury to Illabo section, to prepare the line for future double-stacked freight trains.
In Junee, the Kemp Street bridge will be demolished to allow for the construction of a new, elevated road bridge.
Demolition works will include the removal of sections of the bridge over the rail corridor. This involves cutting through the asphalt and deck structures and lifting the beams off with a crane.
Heritage elements from the bridge, including the iconic red bricks and lampposts, will be thoughtfully incorporated into the new landscaping design where possible.
Road closures in Junee are now in place while the bridge is closed for approximately 18 months.
The works being conducted by Inland Rail will deliver long-term benefits to the Junee community, including reducing wait times at the Olympic Highway level crossing, solving an issue that has caused significant frustration to local road users.
Other works during the possession include track works, signalling works and geotechnical testing, to be carried out at sites spanning from Albury to Illabo.
James Kennedy, Inland Rail Delivery Director, Albury to Parkes, said:
‘The upcoming 60-hour track possession marks a major opportunity to advance work on Inland Rail in southern New South Wales.
‘This planned window allows us to safely deliver a significant portion of the project’s scope, including the demolition of the Kemp Street bridge in Junee, as we continue progressing towards delivering Inland Rail south of Parkes by 2027.
‘We’re grateful for the support and patience of the communities where we’re working. We especially acknowledge residents, business owners, and road users for their cooperation during this important phase of construction.’
Treaven Martinus, Martinus Rail CEO and founder, said:
‘A 60-hour possession sounds like a lot of time until you’re removing a bridge, running multiple work fronts, and handing the corridor back ready for trains. Every movement, every machine, every team has been planned down to the hour so we can get in, do the job safely, and get out on time.
‘The Kemp Street Bridge has been part of Junee for decades. Our engineering team has done a great job designing a new bridge that meets modern standards while keeping the character of the old one alive for the community.
‘Bridge works, track upgrades, geotechnical investigations, and environmental testing all in one possession. Delivering that much work in 60 hours takes rail experts who understand rail projects. The sequencing, the safety, the timing, it only comes together when you’ve got the right teams who know how to deliver under pressure.’
