Hunter Valley Rail Network maintenance shutdown

THE Hunter Valley Rail Network will shutdown from 6:30am on Tuesday, February 9 until Friday, February 12, while the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) completes maintenance work on three Muswellbrook bridges.

Wayne Johnson, ARTC Group Executive of the Hunter Valley Network advised that no major traffic changes are planned during the February work period.

“We may need to schedule short duration road closures of under three minutes at Bridge Street however, these short closures will be scheduled outside peak hours to decrease traffic interruptions and there will also be traffic controls in place during these times,” said Mr Johnson.

Maintenance will include foundation construction and piling works on the Hunter River Bridge, Muscle Creek Bridge and Bridge Street Bridge in Muswellbrook.

“During this shutdown period we will continue construction of the bridge foundations for the new bridge over Bridge Street and around 230 metres of new track will also be constructed within the work area,” said Mr Johnson.

“There is also some piling works scheduled during this shutdown period that will be carried out to the west of the main construction site between the Hunter River and Muscle Creek,” he said.

“ARTC is committed to carrying out all piling works, which causes sudden, loud banging between 7am and 9pm each day to reduce community disturbance following community feedback during a planned works period last year,” he said.

Maintenance work details

• Muswellbrook Bridge replacement program;
• Upgrading nearly two kilometres of track formation;
• Replacing a major crossover and turnout at Maitland;
• Replacing around twelve kilometres of worn rail;
• 27 track undercutting sites;
• Replacing major steel components on nine turnouts;
• Track defect removals;
• Scheduled maintenance activities.