Roads Reopen After Level Crossing Removal Scheme
Motorists in Victoria now have access to two freshly opened road connections, a result of recent level crossing removal efforts aimed at enhancing safety and traffic efficiency.
In Dandenong South, a new signalised intersection linking Fowler Road and South Gippsland Highway has commenced operations, offering improved safety and traffic flow in the area.
Similarly, in Diggers Rest, a new road connection has been unveiled ahead of schedule following intensive works to streamline traffic flow and enable safe passage across the new Golden Way road bridge over the rail line.
The newly established intersection at Fowler Road and South Gippsland Highway is specifically designed to cater to oversized and overmass vehicles traversing the industrial precinct. Traffic lights have been installed to enhance access for vehicles turning from Fowler Road onto South Gippsland Highway.
In a positive development, South Gippsland Highway has reopened to traffic three days earlier than anticipated, thanks to reconfiguration efforts at the intersection and the installation of traffic signals.
Continued access will be provided via Hallam Valley Road, while ongoing construction activities in the upcoming months will focus on creating indented parking spaces along Fowler Road. Indented on-street parking widens the drivable area, enhancing ease and safety for vehicles navigating Fowler Road.
The project includes additional safety features such as upgraded street lighting, a reduction in the speed limit to 40 km/h, and the installation of a new footpath along Fowler Road in collaboration with the Greater Dandenong City Council.
The closure of the hazardous Progress Street level crossing in June has been permanent, with the new road bridge linking Progress Street to Fowler Road south of the rail line offering businesses a safer route to South Gippsland Highway.
To facilitate ongoing works and ensure safety, buses will substitute trains on sections of the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines from Friday, 1 August to Thursday, 14 August. These measures will allow crews to finalise the removal of remaining infrastructure at the former level crossing.
In 2025, the Pakenham Line is expected to be free of level crossings, with 22 perilous crossings eliminated permanently, thereby enhancing safety and reducing congestion.
The upgraded road section connecting Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road to Old Calder Highway has reopened after temporary closure in June to accommodate works following the removal of the Old Calder Highway level crossing and the opening of the road bridge.
During the construction blitz, crews focused on realigning the road connection west of the rail line, completing drainage, asphalting, and landscaping tasks, and installing new kerbs, footpaths, and lighting.
Approximately 30 car parking spaces in the station's western car park, which were temporarily closed during the works, have been reinstated. The 483 bus route has resumed its regular service, with stops on Welcome Road now back in operation.
Pedestrians can now safely cross Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road using the zebra crossing to access the station.
With traffic flow normalised in the area, upcoming plans include the construction of a new landscaped forecourt east of Diggers Rest Station and the completion of drainage works on Old Calder Highway.
Efforts are ongoing to erect the new Watsons Road bridge over the rail line, scheduled to open later this year.
With over 8,000 vehicles navigating the Watson Road and Old Calder Highway level crossings daily, delays of up to 36 minutes were common during peak morning hours when 27 trains passed through the crossings.
The removal of the Old Calder Highway level crossing marks the 86th successful level crossing removal across Melbourne, enhancing safety and alleviating congestion in the region.
Source: Infrastructure Magazine
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