Contractors make progress at Pakenham level crossing

Artist impression of Cardinia Road crossing, from the Level Crossing Removal Project.

Major progress has been made at the site for the Cardinia Road level crossing removal in Pakenham.

In late 2019, the contracted alliance comprising Metro Trains Melbourne and Fulton Hogan, worked around the clock to construct a temporary road to the eastern side of Cardinia Road.

The temporary road will allow traffic to continue to flow through the area while a road bridge is constructed on the western side.

Piling works are now underway for the new road bridge. This involved digging vertically into the ground, filling the holes with concrete to create the foundations for the bridge structure. These works are expected to continue until the end of January.

Replacing the level crossing with a road bridge will aim to deliver improved traffic flow, the opportunity for more train services in the future and improved safety for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.

The boom gates are down at the crossing for up to a third of the morning peak and by 2026 over 24,000 cars are expected to travel through the crossing daily.

Metro Trains Melbourne and Fulton Hogan were awarded the $80 million Cardinia Road level crossing removal works in October 2019.