Wandong residents have been invited to provide feedback on the Inland Rail designs for the Broadford-Wandong Road bridge project in Victoria, after the designs were unveiled by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC).
The project will create a higher and safer bridge to the north of the existing structure. Building the new structure slightly to the north allows for the existing bridge to remain operational during construction, minimising traffic disruptions.
The bridge will be taller than the existing bridge and a round-about will be installed at the Broadford-Wandong Road and Rail Street intersection to improve road safety and sight lines.
Community feedback is now invited to refine the look and feel of the bridge and surrounding area, including pathways, signage, seating, and landscaping.
Between August 26 and September 23, community information sessions will be held with project team members and provide opportunities for residents to have their questions answered.
Feedback and key themes gathered will shape the next phase of the design process and be incorporated into the design, where possible.
From August 21, the community can share feedback and information by:
• Dropping into the ARTC shopfront at Shop 7, Wandong Plaza, Wandong, on Thursdays, 9am to 1pm
• Visiting inlandrail.info/Wandong
• Attending an ARTC event between Saturday, August 26 and Saturday, September 23
• Calling 1800 732 761 or emailing victoriaprojects@artc.com.au
Construction on the Broadford-Wandong Road bridge project is due to begin in 2025.
Work on the Victorian section of Inland Rail will be undertaken at 12 sites, including Wandong, to enable double-stacked freight trains to pass safely and ensure everyday products can be delivered faster and more reliably around Australia.
ARTC Victoria and South Australia projects general manager Ed Walker said feedback from the community and stakeholders continued to inform the design for the project.
“The community has told us heritage, safety, connectivity, and the community gardens are important. and we have incorporated them and extended the gardens in the latest design,” he said.
“We are seeking feedback on how the community plans to interact with the bridge, including road and pedestrian access and pathways and other urban design elements such as seating, signage and landscaping.”