The level crossing on Old Geelong Road in Hoppers Crossing is now gone for good with a new road bridge built over the rail line – the 55th level crossing removed by the Victorian Government.
The new 220-metre road bridge – which directly connects Princes Highway to Old Geelong Road – reduces congestion and improves safety for the 18,000 vehicles that travelled through the level crossing each day.
The boom gates held up traffic for up to 36 per cent of the morning peak, when up to 25 trains ran through the crossing.
The boom gates at the former level crossing site will remain in place until they are removed in 2022, to reduce disruption for rail passengers.
Works to upgrade nearby roads and intersections will continue into next year. The final road layout will see new lanes on Heaths Road and Old Geelong Road open, as well as an upgrade of the Heaths Road and Morris Road intersection, with optimised traffic light phasing introduced to make traffic flow more efficient.
Member for Tarneit Sarah Connolly said the level crossing removal would be a big boost for local traffic.
“This is a great day for the Hoppers Crossing community – with the level crossing on Old Geelong Road officially gone for good and the new road bridge open – slashing congestion and making travelling around the area safer and more reliable,” Connolly.
The Victorian Government is getting rid of 85 level crossings across Melbourne by 2025, with 55 now gone for good.
For more information on the Level Crossing Removal project, click here.
Related stories:
- New milestone for Adelaide’s $196M level crossing removal
- 54 Melbourne level crossings gone, a year ahead of schedule
- Melbourne’s Old Geelong Road level crossing removal fast-tracked