Albion Viaduct
Albion Viaduct | |
|---|---|
 Bridge viewed from the eastern lookout | |
| Coordinates | 37°44′49″S 144°50′47″E / 37.747020°S 144.846520°E |
| Carries | Albion–Jacana railway line |
| Crosses | |
| Begins | Keilor East (east) |
| Ends | Sunshine North (west) |
| Official name | Maribyrnong River Viaduct |
| Other name | Quarter Mile Bridge |
| Owner | ARTC |
Preceded by | M80 Western Ring Road |
Followed by | Solomons Ford (pedestrians only) |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Trestle bridge |
| Material | Steel |
| Total length | 383 m (1,257 ft) |
| Height | 55 m (180 ft) |
| No. of spans | 25 |
Rail characteristics | |
| No. of tracks | 2 |
| Track gauge | Standard gauge |
| History | |
| Constructed by | Victorian Railways |
| Construction start | 1927 |
| Construction end | June 1929 |
Official name | Albion Viaduct |
| Type | Registered place |
| Designated | 19 September 1996 |
| Reference no. | H1197 |
| |
Category | Transport - Rail |
| Location | |
Interactive map of Albion Viaduct | |
| References | |
| [1] | |
The Albion Viaduct, officially the Maribyrnong River Viaduct, and also known locally as the Quarter Mile Bridge, is a trestle viaduct across the Maribyrnong River and Maribyrnong River Trail that carries the Albion–Jacana railway line, located in the inner western suburbs of Melbourne, in Victoria, Australia. It is located near the E J Whitten Bridge, and is almost 400 metres (1,300 ft) long (hence the Quarter Mile name).
Completed in 1929, the viaduct was added to the Victorian Heritage Register on 19 September 1996 in recognition of its scientific, architectural and historical importance.[2]
History
It was built in 1927–29 by the Victorian Railways Construction Branch to carry a new double track goods line over the Maribyrnong River. The new line enabled trains from all parts of the state, except Gippsland, to have direct access to the Tottenham marshalling and sorting yards, and relieved congestion at the Melbourne Yard.[2]
At the time of its opening, it was the largest trestle bridge in Australia.[3] The viaduct is scientifically and architecturally important on account of its large size, and for the adoption of unusual cost effective design features such as the use of two girders per span to carry the double track, the use of K bracing in the towers, and the use of broad flange beams as columns.[2] Until the completion of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the viaduct was also the highest railway bridge in Australia. It employed 200 people during its construction, with one fatality.
In 2021, the Victorian Government unveiled plans for the route of the proposed Melbourne Airport Rail that included a new crossing of the river, via a 550-metre (1,804 ft) elevated rail bridge, located adjacent to the Albion Viaduct.[4] The government invited tenders in September 2021,[5] and the contract was awarded to FCC Construction Australia and Winslow Infrastructure in October 2022 and work commenced shortly thereafter.[6][7]
Description
Comprising 25 spans,[8] the viaduct is 383 metres (1,257 ft) long between abutments and 55 metres (180 ft) above water level; and is the second-highest bridge in Victoria after the West Gate Bridge, which is 58 metres (190 ft) high. The structure comprises two steel girders supported on twelve steel framed towers.[3]
The main traffic over the bridge is freight services, but it also carries two passenger services, the Melbourne to Sydney NSW TrainLink XPT, and the Melbourne-Albury V/Line service which now runs on standard gauge.
An internal and external walkway spans the length of the bridge on both sides.
Gallery
The viaduct in 2012
Inside one of the trestles
See also
References
- ↑ "Albion Viaduct: Beams Arriving for Big Railway Works". The Age. No. 22, 563. 30 July 1927. p. 16. Retrieved 23 April 2017 – via Trove. National Library of Australia.
- 1 2 3 "Albion Viaduct, Victorian Heritage Register (VHR) Number H1197, Heritage Overlay HO05,HO107". Victorian Heritage Database. Heritage Victoria. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- 1 2 Payne, Bruce (May 2003). "Albion Viaduct on the Broadmeadows to Albion Line". Bulletin. Australian Railway Historical Society: 186.
- ↑ Jacks, Timna (12 April 2021). "Developers, heritage protectors line up over airport rail bridge plans" (includes animation of rail traffic on the existing viaduct and proposed new bridge). The Age. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- ↑ "Tenders invited for Melbourne Airport Rail's Maribyrnong River bridge". Roads and Infrastructure Australia. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- ↑ "Start of works, Sunshine Masterplan and Contract announcements". Victoria’s Big Build. Government of Victoria. 15 December 2022. Archived from the original on 4 January 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
- ↑ Thompson, John (31 October 2022). "Works commence and contract awarded for $10B Melbourne Airport rail link". Infrastructure Magazine. Archived from the original on 31 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ↑ "Maribyrnong Viaduct Investigation & Strengthening Design". Sterling Infrastructure Group. n.d. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
External links
- Images from the construction of the bridge, 1928
- City of Moonee Valley Gap Heritage Study
- "The Railway Top 20!" (PDF). History Victoria. www.historyvictoria.org.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 30 March 2008.
- "Maribyrnong River Viaduct (listing VICH1197)". Australia Heritage Places Inventory. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Retrieved 8 August 2008.
- 1929 establishments in Australia
- Bridges completed in 1929
- Bridges in Melbourne
- Buildings and structures in the City of Brimbank
- Buildings and structures in the City of Moonee Valley
- Maribyrnong River
- Places on the Victorian Heritage Register in the City of Brimbank
- Places on the Victorian Heritage Register in the City of Moonee Valley
- Railway bridges in Victoria (state)
- Transport in the City of Brimbank
- Transport in the City of Moonee Valley
- Trestle bridges in Australia