A new contract has been awarded to replace the dangerous and congested Cherry Street level crossing over the Werribee line with a road bridge.
The project will be delivered by an alliance of McConnell Dowell, Arup, Mott MacDonald and Metro Trains Melbourne, in partnership with the Level Crossing Removal Project.
The alliance has already removed three level crossings across Melbourne and is also currently building a new stabling yard at Wyndham Vale.
Due for completion in 2022, the project aims to reduce travel times for drivers and build better, safer connections for pedestrians and cyclists.
The road bridge will also create a direct connection between Tarneit Road and the Princes Highway, via an existing irrigation channel next to Wyndham City Council offices.
The area will also benefit from a new pedestrian underpass, landscaping and a shared-use path on the south side of the rail line.
Werribee is also set to lose two more level crossings, with the Old Geelong Road and Werribee Street crossings to be removed by 2022.
Work is currently underway to prepare the area and establish a site office.
The existing crossing location will eventually be closed to vehicles, which will benefit from safer, better travel times using the new bridge without the uncertainty of dealing with boom gates.
Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Jacinta Allan, and Member for Werribee, Tim Pallas, visited the Cherry Street level crossing project worksite to inspect early works.
“The Cherry Street level crossing can cause delays of up to 38 minutes in the two-hour morning peak, so removing these boom gates will mean less frustration and better travel times for drivers,” Ms Allan said.
“Building a new road bridge close to the Cherry Street level crossing is the best way to remove the boom gates at the level crossing, slashing travel times and avoiding long traffic queues,” Mr Pallas said.
In another boost for commuters, a gravel area will be transformed to accommodate 130 new car parking spaces, with improved safety features like better lighting and CCTV, financed through the Victorian Government’s Car Parks for Commuters Fund.
Work is also progressing on the $1.8 billion Western Roads Upgrade, set for completion in 2021 – improving traffic flow across vital roads in Melbourne’s growing western suburbs to complement the rail works.
Early work has begun on the Duncans Road Interchange to reduce congestion for the 11,000 drivers that pass through every day and improve access for people travelling from Geelong and the community in Werribee South.
Major resurfacing works are also currently underway along sections of Kororoit Creek Road in Altona and Ferguson Street in Williamstown, with some detours in place as crews lay new asphalt, fix potholes, build sealed shoulders and paint new line markings.