Working round the clock to build new rail under pass

The tunnel, 14 metres long and 3 metres wide, will contain a combined cycle-walking path. It will be the key link in the Southern Link Cycleway, which is planned to run from the new hospital precinct and Shiralee Village, to the central business district of Orange.

The $600,000 project is being built with funds from Transport for NSW under their Cycling Towns program.

The project is being built by construction firm Bridge & Civil Pty Ltd. Since work began on Wednesday, crews have been working around the clock with the aim of completing the project by the evening of Friday 9 March.

The under-rail linkage will connect Orange’s existing path network to Sundew Circuit via an easement through James Sheahan School land, giving potential access to both James Sheahan and Orange Christian School students to the off-road path network.

Orange mayor Reg Kidd said the latest project is one of a number of initiatives delivered under the Cycling Towns grant from the RMS.

“This is the third and final year of the funding stream that has seen delivery of the Active Travel Plan, schools programs, mapping, brochures, signage, paths, boardwalks, on-road markings and bike racks installed throughout the city,” Cr Reg Kidd said.

“All of these steps have the aim of encouraging more people to ride or walk to school or work”.

On the southern side of the tracks, about 400 metres of the path towards Sundew Circuit is already under construction and is expected to be completed in early April.

Transport for NSW has funded the tunnel and is delivering the project through their infrastructure manager, all within the auspice of the Cycling Towns grant received from the RMS over three years, totaling over $2,000,000 of spending from the State Government and Council.

DIGGING: Workers on site building the rail underpass.