Residents in Melbourne’s west are set to benefit from more essential road and rail works this spring, including the removal of a busy Williamstown level crossing.
Across Melbourne over the next three months, an incredible eight level crossings will be removed and six new stations will be opened.
In Williamstown, the Ferguson Street level crossing is used by 25,000 vehicles and 110 trains each day. Up to 50,000 cubic metres of rock will now be excavated to lower the rail line under the road – boosting safety and reducing congestion for locals.
A major 84-day closure of the rail line between Newport and Williamstown, which kicked off last week, will come to an end on November 13 when the level crossing is removed, with trains picking up passengers from a new North Williamstown railway station.
Buses will replace trains between Newport and Williamstown until 12 November, and Ferguson Street will be closed to traffic at the level crossing until the end of September.
Works will continue on the $2.1 billion Sunbury Line Upgrade that will prepare the line for bigger, more modern trains to run when the Metro Tunnel opens in 2025 and create room for an extra 113,000 passengers every week.
Crews will upgrade overhead line structures at the Metro Tunnel’s western portal in Kensington as well as between Keilor Plains and Watergardens, install trackside signalling, communications and power infrastructure along sections of the line, and improve platforms at Middle Footscray, West Footscray and Sunshine stations.
As a result, buses will replace Sunbury trains between North Melbourne and Sunshine from 9pm on Friday, 3 September until the last train on Tuesday, 7 September. From Sunday, 5 September to Tuesday, 7 September replacement buses will extend to Sunbury after 8:30pm each night.
The Sunbury Line Upgrade works will also impact V/Line services on the Bendigo, Echuca, Swan Hill, Ballarat, Ararat, Maryborough, Geelong and Warrnambool lines on the weekend of 4 – 5 September.
As part of the Western Roads Upgrade, works in Werribee will be completed on the Duncans Road Interchange from 13 – 17 September as the old bridge pillars are removed, meaning the 11,000 cars and trucks that use the interchange every day will enjoy reduced congestion, increased safety and an easier journey to and from Geelong.
A dedicated 20-year maintenance program is also underway as part of the upgrade, delivering targeted maintenance on about 260 kilometres of arterial roads from Footscray to Werribee to deliver smoother, safer and more reliable journeys for drivers in the west.
Construction will also ramp up on the West Gate Tunnel project from 17 September to 18 October as crews rebuild the Grieve Parade citybound ramp, build a new lane south of the freeway at Williamstown Road and install new traffic signals and lighting, and carry out bridge and pavement works at the Princes Freeway to Geelong Road rampDuring this time the Grieve Parade onramp to the West Gate Freeway inbound and the Princes Freeway to Geelong Road onramp inbound will be closed, and there’ll be no left turn from the Williamstown Road exit ramp onto Melbourne Road.
These works are part of Victoria’s Big Build which this spring will see Victorians benefit from more level crossing removals, road and rail upgrade projects designed to build a better transport system for Victoria’s future.
Passengers are reminded to wear a mask every time they leave the home, including on replacement buses.
Check in every time you see a QR Code and register your myki so that we can contact you if you’ve travelled on a public transport service that’s been identified as a COVID-19 exposure site. It’s quick and easy to register your myki: ptv.vic.gov.au/register.
Victoria’s Big Build projects are critical state infrastructure projects under current restrictions and work continues safely with strict COVIDSafe Plans in place.
For more information about the planned disruptions visit bigbuild.vic.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Member for Williamstown Melissa Horne
“The Ferguson Street level crossing is used by hundreds of school students and families each day – it’s an unacceptable safety risk and removing it will benefit the community for years to come.”
“The Sunbury Line Upgrade will improve journeys and make way for an additional 113,000 passengers each week and introduce bigger, better trains, as well as a raft of infrastructure improvements.”
“As we continue on the path to COVID-normal, we’re investing $80 billion in the 165 Big Build projects that will be critical to this state’s recovery.”