The removal marked the start of the ninth and final bridge replaced in the Beveridge to Albury section of track, allowing the operation of double-stacked trains.
The bridge over the rail corridor at Broadford was demolished and girders for the new bridge installed in a highly co-ordinated undertaking from Inland Rail and the John Holland construction crews.
The existing 57-year-old bridge will make way for a new bridge 3.7 metres higher and 11m wider.
Four 68-metre girders, weighing 600 tonnes combined, were lifted into place by a 650-tonne crawler crane to form the backbone of the new bridge.
Inland Rail chief executive Sean Sweeney said Inland Rail had now achieved the height and width clearances needed for double-stacked freight trains at 11 of the 12 B2A project sites, with the Tallarook site the remaining location to complete necessary modifications.
“Successfully removing the ninth and final bridge on the Beveridge to Albury project is a major achievement,” he said.
“With the right planning we were able to remove the old Marchbanks Rd bridge and install the girders for the new bridge in 86 hours.
“We thank the community for their patience and co-operation as we work as safely and efficiently as we can to reconnect the community with a new bridge.”
Level crossing upgrades were also carried out at Benalla and Euroa, deflection wall works continued at Tallarook, track safety barriers were removed at Wandong and track and drainage works were completed at Hamilton St and Short St in Broadford.
Inland Rail has already replaced road bridges over the rail corridor at Wangaratta, Glenrowan, Benalla, Euroa, Seymour-Avenel Rd, Wandong and at Short St and Hamilton St in Broadford. Two pedestrian bridges in Wangaratta were also removed.
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