Construction is set to commence in late January on the Daroobalgie and Wyndham Avenue sites of the Stockinbingal to Parkes enhancement project, as part of the development of the Inland Rail.
Inland Rail is a 1,600km freight rail line that will connect Melbourne and Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
The Stockinbingal to Parkes section project will make enhancements or modifications to specific sites of Inlalong the existing 170.3km of rail corridor in regional New South Wales.
Construction works by Inland Rail contractor Martinus at Daroobalgie, north of Forbes, will commence from 22 January and will include deliveries to site, geotechnical investigations, earthworks, level crossing upgrades, installation of new drainage and track works.
Earthworks, installation of new drainage, and track works to increase vertical clearance under the road bridge to allow for double stacked freight trains will all begin at Wyndham Avenue in Forbes from January 29.
The Stockinbingal to Parkes project area spans from just north of the rail junction in Stockinbingal to just south of Goobang Junction in Parkes, New South Wales.
The 170km project includes upgrades along the existing rail corridor and building new supporting infrastructure to provide sufficient height and width to support the safe running of double-stacked freight trains.
An Inland Rail spokesperson said, “We are pleased to be getting on with the job of building Inland Rail in southern New South Wales.
“We will continue to engage strongly with local suppliers and businesses across regional New South Wales and are excited about the benefits that we can bring to local economies as we deliver these works.”
The Albury to Illabo project will also progress in early 2024, with Martinus undertaking site investigations to identify and locate utilities in January.
The project includes enhancements to bridges and other structures along approximately 185km of existing rail corridor from the Victoria-New South Wales border to Illabo in regional New South Wales.
In Albury, site investigations will take place at Albury Station, Riverina Highway and Billy Hughes bridge, commencing 22 January.
Wagga Wagga investigations will commence on 29 January at the Wagga Wagga Station footbridge, Cassidy Parade footbridge, Edmondson Street bridge and Pearson Street.
In Junee, site investigations will commence on 29 January around the Kemp Street bridge. In February, utilities contractors working on behalf of Inland Rail will undertake works to relocate gas services in the vicinity of Kemp Street bridge.
Speaking of the project, an Inland Rail spokesperson thanked the local community for their patience and understanding as the site investigations were taken out.
“Following the Albury to Illabo Preferred Infrastructure Report public exhibition period, Inland Rail is now preparing a Response to Submissions report to address issues raised. The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure will consider these reports in its assessment of the project.”
