Work to remove more dangerous and congested level crossings continues this winter as construction on Victoria's Big Build steams ahead through the cold months.
Victorians beginning to transition back to their workplace will notice major construction happening across the city. Works are underway at more than 20 level crossings sites, while significant progress is being made on 10 major road projects in Melbourne. There's also upgrades, and maintenance works taking place on nine major rail lines.
In the west, the Ferguson Street level crossing in Williamstown will be removed during an 85-day construction blitz from 20 August until 13 November, seeing hundreds of workers on site and up to 50,000 cubic metres of clay and hard basalt rock taken out of the rail corridor - enough to fill 20 Olympic swimming pools.
By the end of the rail line closure, another level crossing will be gone in Melbourne's west, with trains running through a 750-metre trench under Ferguson Street and a new North Williamstown Station open to passengers.
The level crossing at South Gippsland Highway in Dandenong South will be the 47th set of boom gates gone for good when it's removed six months ahead of schedule in early August. Its removal means less congestion and free-flowing freight routes for one of Australia's busiest manufacturing regions.
The South Gippsland Highway will close for three weeks starting in mid-July as crews work around the clock to build a new road bridge, which will open in August.
There will be other winter disruptions across the state, including on the Monash Freeway, M80 Ring Road and West Gate Freeway. Crews will continue to add extra lanes and upgrade entry and exit ramps to improve safety and reduce congestion. Widening works on the West Gate Freeway, part of the West Gate Tunnel, are more than half complete.
On the rail network, major works will also take place as part of the Sunbury Line Upgrade, Metro Tunnel and upgrades to the Geelong and Warrnambool lines. Tram track renewal work will close St Kilda Road to trams and traffic at the end of June and Swan Street, Richmond in August.
Buses will replace trains along sections of the Lilydale line between 19 and 24 July, and on sections of the Frankston line between 25 July and 1 August.
Our $80 billion program of Big Build works is helping revitalise the economy, create more than 50,000 jobs and transform the way Victorians travel by making changes today, better transport tomorrow. For more information on the entire program of works, and to see if you are affected visit bigbuild.vic.gov.au.
As stated by Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan
"We're removing one level crossing on average every four weeks - whilst we always try and minimise disruption, we thank Victorians for their patience as we get on with delivering the projects that we promised."
"Victoria's Big Build is supporting 50,000 jobs through work that better connects communities and gets them where they need to go. Works are revving up this winter right across the state as we deliver the projects we promised."
As stated by Member for Williamstown Melissa Horne
"It's not long now until the Ferguson St level crossing is gone for good - and we'll continue to work with the local community as we remove this dangerous and congested level crossing."
