The level crossing on Old Geelong Road in Hoppers Crossing will be gone for good on Thursday, December 9.
The state government announced the news this morning about the project, which includes a new road bridge built over the rail line to d connect Princes Highway to Old Geelong Road.
Major construction is now underway to open the new 220-metre road bridge within the next few weeks.
The bridge includes nearly 1000 metres of on and off-ramps and has a surface area of nearly 40,000 square meters.
More than 95 per cent of 16,000 tonnes of asphalt has already been laid.
Traders on Old Geelong Road are also calling on the community to keep supporting them through the final stages of construction works, and when the road closure takes place to allow works to occur.
A turning circle will be created between the shopping village and the train station car park, to allow drivers to access local businesses smoothly.
People travelling on foot or by bike will be able to continue to cross over the rail line at the level crossing site until a new pedestrian and cyclist overpass opens in 2022.
Works will also soon get underway on the development of improved community spaces and new landscaped areas near the level crossing removal, as well as a new pedestrian overpass for safer access to Hoppers Crossing station.
The Heaths Road and Morris Road intersection will also be upgraded, with optimised traffic light phasing introduced to make traffic flow more efficient.
It will see traffic lights installed at two brand new intersections on either side of the road bridge, including a new intersection linked with on and off ramps to the Princes Freeway.
In 2018, the state government promised this dangerous and congested level crossing would be removed by 2025.
The project has been fast-tracked and will now be completed four years ahead of schedule.
Tarneit MP Sarah Connolly said: “Hoppers Crossing is a great community, and we’re about to make it even better by getting rid of this level crossing – taking away the lottery of waiting at the boom gates to make travel time more reliable.
“This road bridge will slash congestion – and create a direct link between Old Geelong Road and the Princes Highway.”
