The dangerous and congested 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 Andrews Labor 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. It includes nearly 1,000 meters of on and off ramps and has a surface area of nearly 40,000 square meters.
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 level crossing removal means emergency vehicles, patients and staff travelling to the nearby Werribee Mercy Hospital, will never be held up at the boom gates again.
The city-bound Princes Freeway off ramp to Hoppers Crossing has also reopened, connecting motorists from the southwest directly with Old Geelong Road and Princes Highway using the road bridge intersection. Traffic lights have been installed at two brand new intersections on either side of the road bridge, with links to ramps to the Princes Freeway.
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.
Improved community spaces and new landscaped areas will also be developed, as well as a new pedestrian overpass to give locals better and safer access to Hoppers Crossing Station.
In 2018, the Andrews Labor Government promised the dangerous and congested level crossing on Old Geelong Road would be removed by 2025. The project was instead fast-tracked is now gone – four years ahead of schedule.
The Labor Government is getting rid of 85 level crossings across Melbourne by 2025, with 55 now gone for good.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan
“Today, the Hoppers Crossing community can benefit from safer and less congested journeys – with Melbourne’s 55th dangerous and congested level crossing gone for good, and the opening of a new road bridge.”
“We’re excited to see another level crossing gone four years ahead of schedule – and we’re powering on to reach our goal of getting rid of 85 level crossings by 2025.”
Quote attributable to Member for Tarneit Sarah Connolly
“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.”
Quote attributable to Member for Werribee Treasurer Tim Pallas
“Some said it wasn’t possible to remove 50 level crossings, but we achieved that a year ahead of schedule and will do plenty more – saving time for motorists in the west by taking away the lottery of waiting at the boom gates.”
