Glenrowan's New Bridge
Bordering the site where the infamous bushranger Ned Kelly took his last stand, the Beveridge to Albury project team and their construction partner McConnell Dowell pulled out all stops to deliver the new bridge using massive cranes and pouring plenty of concrete.
The new Beaconsfield Parade bridge is modern infrastructure that better connects Glenrowan’s key heritage sites via a network of pathways, improves vehicle and pedestrian safety and leaves a legacy respectful of the town’s unique heritage.
Bridge construction has generated hundreds of jobs for locals, and given the region a major boost, with local businesses and tradies all contributing.
The McConnell Dowell and Beveridge to Albury project team downed tools on Friday 1 March, to officially open the bridge.
Follow the journey of this exciting Inland Rail site, learn how the bridge was constructed and the benefits it brought to the region.
Construction timeline
In Victoria, Glenrowan is one of 12 Inland Rail sites where works are required to increase clearance on the existing North East rail line for Inland Rail to safely run double-stacked freight trains.
The new 145-metre Beaconsfield Parade bridge replaces the 60-year-old existing bridge, which will be demolished over several months in early 2024.
2022
The old Beaconsfield Parade bridge.
The old Beaconsfield Parade bridge.
August-September 2022
Potential suppliers, subcontractors and equipment providers to the Beveridge to Albury section were invited to attend several business capability workshops.
The workshops encouraged local and First Nations businesses to learn about supply opportunities with the Beveridge to Albury construction contractor McConnell Dowell for work sites at Glenrowan, Wangaratta, Seymour and Barnawartha.
October 2022
Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) awarded an approximately $200 million contract to McConnell Dowell to start construction on the first four Inland Rail sites in Victoria, including Glenrowan.
February, 2023
Construction of the new bridge officially kicked off in February, with a 'sod turning' ceremony.
Glenrowan Primary School students took part in the official sod turn event to mark the start of construction of Inland Rail in Victoria.
Glenrowan Primary School students took part in the official sod turn event to mark the start of construction of Inland Rail in Victoria.
Artwork by local students - depicting a range of themes including the new Beaconsfield Parade bridge, trains and, of course, bushranger Ned Kelly - featured on the site's barrier fencing.
Early works included locating and moving vital utilities, such as electricity and gas lines, and preparing the site for the transformation ahead.
Work at Beaconsfield Parade bridge
Work at Beaconsfield Parade bridge
Traffic control measures were put in place, too, to ensure motorists' safety during the construction period.
Albury-based contractor HC Civil provided civil engineering services, machines and earthmoving equipment as part of the Beaconsfield Parade bridge works.
Brenton Simpson, HC Civil Managing Director said being involved with Inland Rail within an hour of where his business is based has enabled them to employ 10 new staff and invest in the business through new equipment and training.
March 2023
In late March, during a 60-hour track possession, the team’s progress powered ahead.
A 'track possession' is when all rail traffic in a specific area is stopped. This is so that essential maintenance or construction can be carried out safely and efficiently, without having to work around train schedules.
A timelapse video of work at Beaconsfield Parade bridge, Glenrowan, during the 60-hour round-the-clock works in March, 2023. (Inland Rail)
A timelapse video of work at Beaconsfield Parade bridge, Glenrowan, during the 60-hour round-the-clock works in March, 2023. (Inland Rail)
Works in Glenrowan focused on installing concrete piles as part of a retention system to protect the formation of the existing track.
Piling rigs in full swing.
Piling rigs in full swing.
Forty-six piles were installed at a depth of around 6m each, allowing construction on the new bridge foundations to happen without impacting train services.
April-May 2023
McConnell Dowell continued piling works for the new Beaconsfield Parade bridge on both the Woolshed Road and Siege Street sides of the track.
Work sites across both sides of the track.
Work sites across both sides of the track.
Drainage work, such as stormwater drain relocation and management, was also carried out.
Heritage management consultant Leah Tepper from GML Heritage.
Heritage management consultant Leah Tepper from GML Heritage.
Throughout the entire project, heritage specialists worked closely with Inland Rail and McConnell Dowell due to the historic significance of the site.
June-July-August 2023
The new bridge is vertically supported by a combination of round piers and 'blade walls'.
Construction of these vertical supports began on both the Woolshed Road and Siege Street sides of the railway track in June 2023, and continued over the next two months.
How are bridge supports made?
This is what the start of a bridge column looks like. Piles are drilled deep into the ground and then a pile cap is poured and backfilled, creating the start of a column.
This is what the start of a bridge column looks like. Piles are drilled deep into the ground and then a pile cap is poured and backfilled, creating the start of a column.
After the piles are complete, formwork is erected so that concrete can be poured to strongly anchor each bridge pier.
After the piles are complete, formwork is erected so that concrete can be poured to strongly anchor each bridge pier.
When poured, and the formwork is removed, the columns are ready for the horizontal elements of the bridge to be added.
When poured, and the formwork is removed, the columns are ready for the horizontal elements of the bridge to be added.
The new bridge's 'blade' walls.
The new bridge's 'blade' walls.
September 2023
With the vertical supports ready, another 'possession' of the track allowed the team to crane in the horizontal elements of the bridge structure over the top of the rail line.
Construction of the new Beaconsfield Parade bridge in Glenrowan powered ahead during a 60-hour track possession in September. McConnell Dowell used a 750 tonne crane to lift 16 pre-cast concrete beans to form the new bridge superstructure.
January 2024
Inland Rail documented a major step towards completing the new Beaconsfield Parade bridge in Glenrowan with the installation of the final concrete beam, completing the 145-metre span across the railway line.
In total, 51 concrete beams were installed – 30 for the vehicle section and 21 beams for the pedestrian section. More than 1200m³ of concrete was used to construct the bridge.
February 2024
Inland Rail celebrates one year of construction in Victoria with the news that $45.1 million had been spent, with 196 local Victorian businesses involved and 732 locals employed on four sites – Barnawartha North, Glenrowan, Wangaratta and Seymour-Avenel Road, Seymour.
“It great to see so many local Victorian workers and businesses working on the project and spreading the benefits of the project into local communities," Ed Walker, ARTC Victoria and South Australian General Manager Projects said.
March 2024
Inland Rail celebrated the opening of the new Beaconsfield Bridge on 1 March, 2024.
Cr Harvey Benton, Cr Irene Grant, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King, Inland Rail CEO Nick Miller and McConnell Dowell GM Harriet Christopherson lead the first walk across the new Beaconsfield Parade bridge at Glenrowan.
Cr Harvey Benton, Cr Irene Grant, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King, Inland Rail CEO Nick Miller and McConnell Dowell GM Harriet Christopherson lead the first walk across the new Beaconsfield Parade bridge at Glenrowan.
The Hon Catherine King MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, cut the ribbon to officially open the bridge and invited the community to walk across it.
In the coming months, the finishing touches will be completed including removing the existing bridge and adding new landscaping and pathways to better connect Glenrowan’s famous heritage sites.
The completed bridge.
The completed bridge.
Built with Shorthand