Construction has commenced on the $95 million Avon River Bridge replacement project at Stratford, marking a new major milestone on the Gippsland Line Upgrade in Victoria.
“This project will provide a boost for the community of Stratford and its surrounds and I’m excited to see crews working to build the new bridge.
“This is a $95 million investment in keeping communities of Gippsland connected,” Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said.
This multi-million dollar project is focusing on generating local jobs, with Heyfield-based company McInnes Earthmoving delivering the access tracks and piling pads - project components that allow heavy machinery, piling rigs and mobile cranes to operate on the project site.
Over 3,000 tonnes of material sources from Olsson Sand and Gravel Supplies located in Longford will also be used during the construction of the track and pads.
“We want as many local suppliers as possible delivering these works for their community, so it’s great to see local contractors involved from the very beginning of construction.
“The Gippsland Line Upgrade isn’t just about providing better services for passengers in the region, it’s also creating jobs and local opportunities,” Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan said.
The new Avon River Bridge is set to make services on the Bairnsdale line more reliable.
“This is an exciting milestone for the project and I’m pleased more reliable services are on the way for passengers using the Bairnsdale line.
“The Avon River bridge has serves Stratford and the wider Gippsland community magnificently across its 130 year lifespan but is nearing the end of its service,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said.
Once construction is completed in 2021, trains will be able to travel up to 90 kilometres per hour on the new bridge compared to the 10 kilometres per hour the old bridge allows. The new bridge will also open the opportunity for freight trains to run on this section of the line in the future.
The construction of the new Avon River Bridge will support up to 300 jobs.
The Gippsland Line Upgrade is part of the $1.75 billion Regional Rail Revival program that is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments, which is aiming to upgrade every regional passenger rail line across Victoria and create over 1,000 jobs.
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Source: Premier of Victoria; Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development; Regional Rail Revival (1, 2)