Works ramping up in Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach

The Victorian Government is removing 18 level crossings and building 12 new stations, including Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach, as part of a $3 billion upgrade along the Frankston line that will improve safety, reduce congestion and allow more trains to run more often.

By the end of this year, Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach will be level crossing free, with safer road connections and 3 new modern stations open to the community.

Major construction to remove the 5 dangerous and congested level crossings and build 3 new station precincts will begin in July 2021.

From 9pm Sunday 25 July to last service Sunday 1 August, buses will replace trains on sections of the Frankston and Stony Point lines so we can demolish the old stations.

From mid July, there will be level crossing and pedestrian crossing closures to enable our major works to take place.

In spring, buses will replace trains on sections of the Frankston and Stony Point lines for about 2 months while we excavate the rail trenches, build roads over the rail trenches, lay new tracks and upgrade signalling.

The new modern Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach stations will open in November.

What's coming up

As part of major works locals can expect about:

• Two months of road closures at level crossings
• Two months of rail closures
• Three months of station closures.

Read on for more information on how you can get around the area.

Major construction to start this July

Major construction will begin in July, when we close Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach stations for demolition and get ready to excavate 3 trenches and build new road bridges and 3 new stations.

To safely carry out our major works to remove the 5 dangerous and congested level crossings by late 2021, there will be changes to how you move around the area.

Rail

The Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach stations will close on Sunday 25 July for demolition, with the 3 new station precincts opening to the public in late 2021.

Frankston and Stony Point line disruptions:

• From 9pm Sunday 25 July to 9pm Monday 26 July and from Thursday 29 July to last service Sunday 1 August, buses will replace trains between Mordialloc, Frankston and Stony Point
• From 9pm Monday 26 July to last service Wednesday 28 July, buses will replace trains between Moorabbin, Frankston and Stony Point
• From first service Monday 2 August to Sunday 12 September trains will run express through Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach. Shuttle buses will connect local passengers to trains at Mordialloc and Carrum stations
• Buses will replace trains on sections of the Frankston and Stony Point lines for 2 months from Monday 13 September to November. More information will be shared closer to the date.

You can plan your journey at the PTV website or call 1800 800 007.

Road

To safely prepare the area for major works, there will be changes to traffic conditions between Edithvale and Bonbeach.

The following level crossings will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians:

• Chelsea Road, Chelsea permanently closed from Monday 19 July. The new Thames Promenade connection will open October 2021.
• Argyle Avenue, Chelsea from Wednesday 21 July–October 2021.
• Bondi Road, Bonbeach from Friday 23 July–October 2021,
• Edithvale Road, Edithvale from Sunday 25 July–October 2021.

Lochiel Avenue and Swanpool Avenue will remain open and traffic management and wayfinding signage will be in place to help guide you safely around the area.

To keep up to date with the latest disruption information, you can sign up for text message alerts by texting 'ECB' to 0429 839 892.

Traffic management

During construction there will be some disruptions to Station Street, Nepean Highway and local roads. The safety of the community is paramount as we carry out these works.

Traffic management will be in place to help you move safely through the area, including at the Swanpool Avenue level crossing to help drivers and pedestrians safely cross the Frankston line.

While these temporary changes are in place local drivers should allow extra time.

Throughout the disruptions we'll conduct real-time monitoring and regular drive-throughs. We use this information to look for ways to improve traffic flow during disruptions.

Wayfinding signage and traffic management will be in place to encourage through-traffic to avoid Nepean Highway with signed detours at Lower Dandenong Road, White Street, Seaford Road and McLeod Road.

24/7 works

At times, we will need to work at night to complete works that can’t be done while trains are running. We will notify affected residents and businesses in advance.

Night works currently planned include:

• 9pm to 3am Monday 19 July to Thursday 22 July
• Sunday 25 July to Monday 2 August
• 9pm to 3am Friday 6 August.

If you have any questions or feedback on these works, please contact the project team at 1800 105 105 or contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au

Getting around the area

We've investigated several options to ensure locals can safely get around the area during these works.

Community shuttle bus

We know how important pedestrian connections are to the community, that's why we're running a community shuttle bus to help connect locals to schools, shops, public transport, the beach and nearby open pedestrian crossing points during major construction.

You can access the community shuttle bus via the existing rail replacement and additional bus stops on Nepean Highway and Station Street. There will be wayfinding signage in place to help you move through the area.

Free pedestrian shuttle buses will run from 9pm Sunday 25 July.

When trains resume on Monday 2 August the free pedestrian shuttle bus services will also connect local commuters to Aspendale, Mordialloc and Carrum stations.

For more information visit the PTV website or call 1800 800 007.

Pedestrian

During major construction there will be an increase of activity and large machinery in the rail corridor. We will need to close some pedestrian rail crossings to ensure the safety of our community and our workers.

The following pedestrian rail crossings are closed:

• Fraser Avenue, Edithvale
• Swan Walk, Chelsea
• Broadway, Bonbeach
• The Glade, Bonbeach.

Pedestrians can continue to cross the Frankston Line at Lochiel Avenue, Berry Avenue and Swanpool Avenue.

Golden Avenue, Chelsea pedestrian crossing will be open from Sunday 25 July to Sunday 1 August.

Our walking and cycling factsheet has more information on new and retained pedestrian rail crossings.

Accessibility

If you need help or cannot board the shuttle service, please contact PTV prior to travelling on 1800 800 007. Instructions will be in place at the bus stops for you to arrange alternative transport at no cost. Staff will also be on-site during the day at certain locations to assist.

Faster finish, less disruption

The Edithvale Chelsea Bonbeach level crossing removals make up one of the largest-scale projects we've built.

We heard the local communities wanted rail under road, so we're building 3 rail trenches to get rid of 5 level crossings and build 3 new stations.

The Edithvale and Bonbeach level crossings were originally to be removed by 2022. The Chelsea level crossings were added to the scope in 2018 and were to be removed by 2025. This would have meant 2 sets of major road and rail disruptions over 4-5 years.

To minimise disruptions to the Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach communities, all projects were fast-tracked to be removed at once with all level crossings gone and stations open by November 2021.

We've now reached a stage of the project where we've done everything we can with the road and pedestrian crossings open. These now need to close so we can complete the walls of the rail trenches and prepare for underground infrastructure, including starting works on the substructures for the new road connections.

Our major works will be done in just over 3 months. Other projects across the network have required station closures of more than 6 months and major rail closures of up to 3 months.

A unique environment

The project is in a unique delivery environment, with a long and narrow project site of almost 5km restricted by Station Street and Nepean Highway. There are also many pedestrian rail crossings along this section of the rail line, which means more disruption points for locals.

The ground conditions are also unique to this area, with sandy soil and a high water table. This means before we lower the rail line we need to install unique underground infrastructure at 3 locations in the rail corridor to manage local groundwater conditions.

Making progress in the rail corridor

We’ve been busy in the rail corridor, preparing Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach for the new rail trenches.

Since 2019, our crews have been hard at work upgrading power and signalling along the Frankston line, and relocating utilities such as gas, water and sewerage. These works have been crucial for us as we prepare to excavate the rail trenches.

We’ve been installing piles to build the foundations for the rail trench retaining walls and new stations. The final stage of piling works will begin in July when we close Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach stations.

We’ve installed almost 4500 sheet piles along the Frankston line to form the retaining walls for the new rail trenches.

The combined length of these sheet piles reaches almost 40km, with some being driven as deep as 19m into the ground.

We’ll install the final 1000 sheet piles in mid 2021, when the rail line is shut for major works.

Rail trench snapshot

• Our largest sheet piling rig weighs 114 tonne – the equivalent of a blue whale
• The Edithvale rail trench will be approximately 900m long from Lochiel Avenue/ Alexandra Street to Bapaume Avenue The Chelsea rail trench will be approximately 1.3km long from Thames Promenade to Golden Avenue The Bonbeach rail trench will be approximately 900m long from York Street to Breeze Street
• Each trench will be nearly 7m deep - we’ll need to dig out 200,000 cubic metres of soil to build the rail trench

Project timeline

Mid 2021

• From Monday 19 July level crossing closures
• From Sunday 25 July, Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach stations closed and demolished
• Buses will replace trains on sections of the Frankston and Stony Point lines from 9pm Sunday 25 July to last service Sunday 1 August
• From Monday 13 September, buses will replace trains for almost 2 months while we excavate the rail trenches, build roads over the rail trenches, lay new tracks and signalling.

Late 2021

• New Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach stations open to the public
• Trains running in the new rail trenches
• 5 level crossings from Edithvale to Bonbeach gone for good

2022

• Landscaping and planting works complete

Timeline subject to change.

Thank you for going local

Best cafe views in Edithvale

Blink and you’ll miss it – tucked away under the Edithvale Surf Life Saving Club is the Sand Dunes Kiosk, a hidden gem serving fantastic coffee with unbeatable beach views.

When Match and Nancy opened Sand Dunes in February last year, they, like everyone else, had no idea the pandemic was about to hit.

Looking back at that time, what Match and the team remember most is the real sense of community he felt during a tough time. It was a welcome sight during lockdown to see customers grab a coffee and walk on the beach all through winter.

Having lived in Edithvale for the past 5 years, Match and Nancy love the community feel and know most of their customers by name. Staff members Anton and Molly are also well-known to the regulars, and love making someone’s day with a friendly chat.

The folks at Sand Dunes know their coffee – Match and Nancy operated a successful cafe for years before opening the kiosk and Match hails from Naples, the home of the espresso.

The beans are Match’s own signature roast perfected since 2006, using 100% Brazilian Arabica beans.

Swing by and you won’t be disappointed – as Match likes to say, ‘We’ll let the coffee do the talking – and there’s no charge for the views!’

Visit Sand Dunes Beach Kiosk, The Esplanade, Edithvale. Open from 8am every day, weather permitting. Visit @sanddunesbeachkiosk

From competing to treating

Although Mastering Movement has only just turned 3, owner Sophie Soleman can call herself a true local.

Having grown up living in Chelsea, Edithvale and Bonbeach, it was completely natural for her to open her sports and physiotherapy clinic in the heart of Chelsea.

Sophie’s passion for health and fitness started when she fell in love with Muay Thai at the age of 16. She soon started competing under the moniker ‘Smiling Assassin’, with her first ever professional boxing gloves and autographed Muay Thai shorts displayed proudly in the clinic.

Sophie says she loves the community vibes in the area and the slow-paced beach living, with word of mouth often resulting in Sophie treating entire families of Chelsea locals.

In her own time, Sophie is passionate about supporting local shops and is looking forward to the Chelsea area being level crossing free at the end of 2021.

‘Improving the area will bring the community together,’ says Sophie. ‘And what’s great for the community is great for the shops.’

Book in to see Sophie and her team at Mastering Movement at Shop 2/1-3 The Strand, Chelsea, visit: masteringmovement.com.au