Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) Inland Rail has unveiled the latest designs for the three replacement bridges to be built in Broadford and invited comments and feedback from residents.
The Marchbanks Road, Short and Hamilton Street bridges in Broadford need to be rebuilt to provide clearance for taller double-stacked freight trains to pass underneath.
The design features of the new bridges include:
Marchbanks Road – a new higher bridge built with wider lanes and road shoulders.
Hamilton Street – a combination of a track lower and a new raised bridge.
A new roundabout will also be built at the Hamilton and Ferguson Street intersection and pedestrian connectivity will be improved with a new pedestrian path on the northern side of the bridge and a shared user path on the south.
Short Street – a combination of a track lower and a new raised bridge with pedestrian connectivity improved via a new pedestrian path on the northern side of the bridge and a shared user path on the south.
ARTC Inland Rail has worked hard to deliver safe and compliant designs that meet agency requirements and community expectations, incorporating community feedback where possible.
Ed Walker, ARTC Victoria and South Australian General Manager Projects explained the project in greater detail.
“We have worked closely with the relevant government agencies and asset owners to present designs that balance their requirements with the practical needs of the community,” he said.
“While we expect some delays to pedestrian and traffic movements during construction, we will be doing everything we can to minimise disruption and maintain movements across the railway line.
“The new bridges will be safer and provide better access for vehicles and pedestrians. Nearby intersections will also be modified to improve traffic safety and flow.
“We encourage the community to come forward with their comments and suggestions on the latest designs.”
A month-long community consultation period will begin to gather feedback on the proposed layouts, look, feel, and interface with surrounding areas of the three bridges.
Interested parties can view the designs online from Monday 26 February 2024. They can discuss the plans with ARTC Inland Rail staff by attending one of the information events listed at inlandrail.info/events or book an appointment at 1800 732 761 and victoriaprojects@artc.com.au
Inland Rail is a nation building rail project that will transform how goods are moved around Australia, first connecting Beveridge (just out of Melbourne) to Parkes, NSW, by 2027 before later connecting from Narromine, New South Wales, to Ebenzer, Queensland.
In Victoria, work will take place at 12 sites – a quarter in Broadford – to lower tracks and raise bridges to enable double-stacked freight trains to pass safely and ensure everyday products can be delivered faster and more reliably around Australia.
Inland Rail is planning to award the construction contract for the remaining eight construction sites, including Broadford, in mid-2024 with construction expected to commence in early 2025.
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