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Bridge opens

The new Watsons Road bridge has opened to traffic in Diggers Rest.

The opening of the new road bridge over the Sunbury train line marks the 88th level crossing removal in Melbourne, permanently separating trains from vehicles to provide safer connections for the growing Diggers Rest community.

The milestone was marked with 14 classic cars from the Macedon Ranges and District Motor Club road testing the new bridge, which includes a pedestrian path to future proof for the growing Diggers Rest community and make it easier for everyone to move across the rail corridor.

It also follows the opening of the new Golden Way road bridge and removal of the Old Calder Highway level crossing in June.

A new community open space connecting the Diggers Rest station to the post office was created as part of the project, and 35,000 trees, shrubs and grasses planted across the project area.

More than 8000 vehicles used the Old Calder Highway and Watsons Road level crossings every day, facing delays of up to 36 minutes when 27 trains travelled through the crossings during the morning peak, according to the state government.

This marks the last level crossing removal along the Sunbury line.

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