Work on rail projects in Victoria’s south-west are making major progress, including the installation of a 105m elevated rail bridge at Surf Coast Highway in Geelong.
In a major step towards removing the Surf Coast Highway’s dangerous and congested level crossing, a four-day road closure saw the installation of 16 beams to form a 1,700-tonne rail bridge.
More than 40 crew members worked around the clock to complete the bridge install, with 4 beams transported to site each night from CIG in Laverton - where they are manufactured - and lifted into place by two 450-tonne cranes.
Work is continuing on the embankments that lead to the new bridge, with rail to be added to the new structure next year before the level crossing is removed.
The bridge is being built south of the current rail line to replace the level crossing as part of the South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication, with trenching and installation of permanent drainage infrastructure across the highway also taking place during the weekend works blitz.
Temporary night road closures will be in place during October to complete bridge works.
In other work on the project this month, two lift shafts were installed at South Geelong Station that will connect with the accessible pedestrian overpass.
The frames for three canopies for the new forecourts and platforms were delivered and are being assembled onsite before installation, with construction continuing on the new station building and second platform.
At Marshall Station, concrete works continued for the foundations and footings of the new ramps and station building, along with cable installation and asphalting in the temporary car park.
Upgrades to train detection technology progressed at 20 locations further down the line as part of Stage 2 of the Warrnambool Line Upgrade, including at Boorcan, Camperdown, Terang, Winchelsea and Warrnambool.
Works included site investigations, more than 2km of trenching, cable installation and access track construction.
This work is part of upgrades to more than 50 public level crossings on the Warrnambool Line, which will allow modern VLocity trains to run to Warrnambool for the first time.
Learn more about the Geelong Line Upgrade and Warrnambool Line Upgrade.
Check out the work in progress footage of the new rail bridge being lifted into place.
