Works to prepare Sunbury Line for Metro Tunnel opening

235895_01

Progress is being made on making the Sunbury Line level crossing free by 2025, reducing congestion and preparing the line to allow more trains to run more often when the Metro Tunnel opens.

Major works are underway at Calder Park Drive to remove a level crossing and build a new road bridge over the Sunbury Line, easing congestion for the 10,000 drivers passing through each day and the 25 trains set to pass through in the morning peak when the Metro Tunnel opens.

Crews have started piling works to build the foundations of the new road bridge. The first stage of a temporary road will also be built alongside Calder Park Drive to help reduce disruptions and allow locals to safely move through the area during construction.

With the Metro Tunnel set to allow 113,000 extra peak hour passengers each week along the Sunbury Line in 2025, removing this level crossing is critical to supporting the growth one of Melbourne’s fastest growing residential areas, where boom gates are down for up to 20 per cent of the morning peak.

In addition to the removal of these two level crossings, Old Calder Highway and Watsons Road in Diggers Rest are also set to be removed, making the Sunbury line level crossing free in 2025.

Sydenham MP Natalie Hutchins said, “Removing the dangerous and congested Calder Park Drive level crossing will improve safety for our community and ease congestion for more than 10,000 vehicles that use it each day.”