Mayor inspects rail precinct works

DESPITE heavy downpours this week the Green Street Bridge is on track to be completed by the week leading into Christmas with an exact date still elusive due to potential future impacts of weather on the schedule. The total project is expected to be completed by March with the western carpark works and installation of pedestrian lifts giving access to the east and west platforms. City Mayor Irene Grant met with Inland Rail delivery director B2A, Ed Walker, on Thursday to walk through the Wangaratta Railway Precinct worksite to get an update on the progression of the project. Mr Walker gave an onsite overview of the current and future works and said the eastern and western lifts were being clad this week and a sub-contractor was also fitting out the lift cars on both sides on Thursday. The western carpark on the Spearing Street side will be concreted and there will be connecting pathways from the carpark to the station precinct that wrap around and connect to the stairs, underpass as well as the existing network. Landscaping of the railway garden and one of the sculptures will be installed on the western side of the tracks. Concrete for the footpath adjacent to the Green Street Bridge was being poured on Thursday and works next week will include the installation of precast concrete barriers. They'll pour the pile caps, and work on the kerb that will be an extension of the footpath that will connect to the existing footpath. Prepping for asphalt, guard rail and final completion works are scheduled for towards the end of next week or the week after, weather permitting. Mr Walker explained that one of the keys to the project is to have it fully operational when they open it as they don't want the community interfacing with construction worksites. "The last items that need to be done are the installation of the lifts and once they're complete we'll open up the precinct and at the moment we're looking at March for it to open," he said. "The platform will be operational and trains will stop when they're heading north on the west platform and when they're heading south they'll stop on the east platform." Mr Walker said Inland Rail and project partner McConnell Dowell have been keen to use local businesses and local people from the region for the project. "Wangaratta is the most complex site we've done in tranche 1 on the basis we've had to construct new platforms, a new pedestrian underpass, constructed a new bridge and a track lowering, so it's had a bit of everything," he said. "We're also right in the middle of town as well so we've had to interface with the community - it has been a really complex site, but we've been really pleased with the progress. "When we hand it back it's going to be a great facility for the community." Mr Walker praised the Wangaratta community for their patience with the Green Street Bridge out of action for almost 12 months. "It has been a real inconvenience for a lot of people and we do appreciate their patience with the works around the site," he said. "We have been super impressed with the amount of interest and we had a lot of people come and look at the bridge being lifted into place. "There are a lot of people who are very passionate about rail in Wangaratta and North East Victoria and we really appreciate it. "When you do construction projects you make allowances for weather but sometimes the actual events exceed the allowance." Inland Rail is about getting freight off the roads and one double stacked train is equivalent to 110 B-double trucks and that's the end game here. Mayor Irene Grant said the work that's been done in Wangaratta and Glenrowan is one of the most important infrastructure projects that has happened in recent years. "It is going to make a very significant and positive difference to our communities and we've appreciated the way ARTC have done their work, liaised with the community and kept us in touch and we're looking forward to see it come to fruition," Mayor Grant said. "The railway service is important to people in Wangaratta and it is appreciated."

Mayor inspects rail precinct works

Improving rail resilience between Sydney and Melbourne

Haines renews call, with backing from the NFF for disaster roaming

Delays expected when roadworks begin in Whitfield

Tanks buying time in housing crisis

More coach services to Wang touted

Rufous Whistler – arrival of a summer songbird

Bombers go back-to-back in A grade

“No stone unturned” – Police committed to the long-haul in manhunt

Start your engines, Wilby Drags are back

Most popular stories