Marchbanks Road Bridge Closure Begins on August 16

AUSTRALIA: The Marchbanks Road bridge closure will begin in Broadford, Victoria, on August 16 as Inland Rail replaces the crossing, with the works and traffic detour continuing until mid-October.

Detour could add up to 20 minutes

According to Inland Rail’s closure notice, Marchbanks Road will close completely while crews demolish the existing bridge and build its replacement in the same location. The road links Broadford with the Hume Freeway.

All traffic will be diverted through the Hume Freeway’s Clonbinane interchange, potentially adding 15–20 minutes to normal journeys. Drivers are being asked to follow electronic signs, detour directions and traffic-management instructions throughout the work.

The new Hamilton Street and Short Street bridges will remain open to traffic during the closure, providing alternative railway crossings within Broadford. Inland Rail said the full closure would allow demolition and reconstruction crews to work more efficiently and reconnect motorists sooner.

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Four long-span beams will support the new bridge

The replacement Marchbanks Road bridge will stand 3.7 metres higher and measure 11 metres wider than the existing structure, creating clearance for double-stacked freight trains.

Four steel beams fabricated by Haywards in Tasmania will form the bridge’s backbone. Each spans more than 60 metres, and the four beams weigh about 600 tonnes together. A July project update says they will be assembled on site and connected by more than 1,000 square metres of bridge deck.

The foundations comprise 89 main concrete piles, while 165 precast concrete elements will form the walls and barriers. The design is part of a wider package that includes three higher Broadford bridges, track lowering and upgraded pedestrian connections at Marchbanks Road, Short Street and Hamilton Street.

Broadford works form part of a 262km upgrade

The Beveridge–Albury section covers 262km of existing railway in Victoria and includes clearance work at 12 sites along the North East rail line. Tranche 2 construction is under way at eight locations between Benalla and Wandong.

By July 8, ten of the 12 sites could accommodate double-stacked trains. Inland Rail said the Marchbanks Road bridge and the Tallarook site were expected to complete the remaining clearance capability before the end of 2026.