Bells are now a thing of the past in Watsons Road, Diggers Rest, after the removal of boom gates in a 24-7 construction blitz to remove two level crossings.
Crews worked around the clock to move services in the rail corridor and complete site establishment at Watsons Road, while the new road bridge is taking shape at the Old Calder Highway following the installation of 42 giant bridge beams.
The beams form the new Old Calder Highway bridge will connect the highway to Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road.
Both level crossings were removed by building a road bridge over the rail line, which permanently separates vehicles and trains, improving safety and easing congestion in the heart of Diggers Rest.
More than 8000 vehicles use the two level crossings every day, with 27 trains travelling through the boom gates during the morning peak, creating 36 minutes of boom gate down time, the state government said,
At Watsons Road, the bridge will include a raised pedestrian path that will provide connections to future developments north of Diggers Rest.
Removing the level crossings will take the Sunbury Line one step closer to being level crossing free in 2025.
