Have your say, Macleod and Rosanna

We're removing the Ruthven Street, Macleod level crossing by building a rail bridge over the road.

We're also building a new walking and cycling path along Ellesmere Parade from Ruthven Street to Davies Street. This section of the path is the missing link between existing paths on McNamara Street and Ellesmere Parade. We'll also build a new signalised pedestrian crossing near the rail bridge.

Removing the level crossing will eliminate almost half an hour of boom gate down time in the morning peak alone, saving travel time for 12,600 drivers each weekday.

Making Macleod and Rosanna level crossing free will also improve safety, reduce congestion and create more reliable travel times for drivers, pedestrians and bike riders – building on the benefits unlocked by the North East Link Project.

The project follows the level crossing removals at Grange Road, Alphington and Lower Plenty Road, Rosanna, and the Hurstbridge Line Duplication project, where we built new modern stations at Greensborough and Montmorency, including a new 100 space multideck car park and bus interchange at Greensborough Station, investing in local communities and a better transport network for all Victorians.

Construction will begin next year with the boom gates gone for good and trains running on the new rail bridge in 2027.

Why this level crossing needs to go

• About 12,600 vehicles travel through this crossing each day
• Boom gates are down for up to 29 minutes of the morning peak (7am to 9am)
• Up to 28 trains during the morning peak (7am to 9am)

Vision and Values feedback and planning submissions

We want to hear what you love about the area and how you travel to help shape concept designs.

We're also seeking planning submissions, and you can contribute via Engage Victoria by 11.59pm, Tuesday 23 December 2025.

Upgrading local sports grounds

We're investing in the Macleod community and upgrading Macleod Park oval and Macleod College oval.

As part of our planning, we work to minimise disruption to the community by exploring efficient construction methodologies.

To minimise construction duration and impact to the community, we'll temporarily use Macleod Park to build the new rail bridge from October 2026 to April 2027.

By having equipment, machinery, vehicles, and construction materials close to the project minimises the length and impact of disruptions for the whole community. This includes less trucks on local roads and shorter disruptions for passengers on the Hurstbridge Line.

We're working closely with the Macleod Junior Football Club, Macleod Cricket Club and Banyule City Council to support the clubs to train and play at other local grounds during construction.

To provide additional and improved recreation space during construction and beyond we'll upgrade the oval at Macleod College. Upgrade works will start next year.

When we’re finished building the rail bridge in 2027, we'll upgrade Macleod Park oval with new drainage and irrigation systems and laying a new natural turf AFL/cricket playing surface and cricket pitch.

We appreciate the collaboration of the Macleod Junior Football Club, Macleod Cricket Club, Macleod College and Banyule City Council to coordinate these works and our investment in the Macleod community.

We thank the clubs, their members and players and the community in advance for their patience during construction and Macleod Park oval upgrades.

Making a planning approval submission

Planning approvals for the Ruthven Street level crossing removal project will be sought from the Minister for Planning under Clause 52.03 (Level Crossing Removal Project) of the Banyule and Darebin planning schemes.

The Level Crossing Removal Project is seeking planning submissions on planning matters relating to the Ruthven Street level crossing removal, including:

• project boundary
• construction-related impacts
• environmental management
• amenity
• trees and vegetation removal
• heritage
• other project matters.

In addition to these planning matters, we welcome submissions related to any aspect of the Ruthven Street level crossing removal.

All submissions received will be summarised in a consultation report to inform the Minister for Planning’s assessment of the project.

If you would like a paper planning submission form sent to you, please call us on 1800 105 105 or email contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au

Make a submission

To make a planning submission, view the project boundary and find out more visit Engage Victoria by 11.59pm, Tuesday 23 December 2025.

Take our survey to have your say

We want to hear from you!

Help us achieve the best outcome for the community by sharing what you love about Macleod and Rosanna and how you move around the area.

Your feedback, along with technical and engineering requirements, will help shape the project's concept designs, which will be released next year.

Visit Engage Victoria by 11.59pm, Tuesday 23 December 2025.

Get Involved to learn more

Join us at one of the following information sessions to:

• learn more about the project
• ask the project team questions
• share what you love about Macleod and Rosanna and how you move around the area.

Online via Zoom

• Monday 8 December from 6pm to 7pm.

In person

• Wednesday 10 December, sessions start from 5.30pm onwards
• Join us at Macleod College, Carwarp Street, Macleod VIC  3058

Bookings are essential, register at Engage Victoria.

The advantages of a rail bridge over a road

• ties into the existing stabling yard and Macleod Station
• requires no acquisition of private property
• more reliable travel times with no boom gate delays
• quieter with no more boom gate bells, fewer train horns and trains travelling in the rail bridge with new tracks and sleepers.
• improves safety for locals and road users
• creates space for landscaping
• shorter construction period compared to other design solutions.

Key considerations for the Ruthven Street rail bridge design

Location of the new bridge
Trains will travel over Ruthven Street on the new rail bridge separating vehicles, pedestrians and bike riders from trains. We'll also create a new maintenance vehicle access to the rail corridor north of the rail bridge, near Powley Parade.

Design of the new bridge
The new rail bridge will be about 600 metres long. The bridge will be partially built from U-shaped concrete segments, known as U-troughs, in which the train sits. At each end of the new rail bridge, retaining walls will tie the Hurstbridge Line back into the surface level tracks. There will be a clearance of 4.8 metres under the rail line on Ruthven Street.

Travel connections
Maintaining connectivity for the community is a key consideration for the project. With this rail bridge design, it is unlikely there will be changes to the way you drive in the area. We'll build a new walking and cycling path along Ellesmere Parade for pedestrians and bike riders, and a new signalised pedestrian crossing near the rail bridge will improve safety for pedestrians and bike riders crossing Ruthven Street.

Major works as part of M80 Ring Road Completion

Work is progressing to complete the M80 Ring Road by seamlessly connecting it to the North East Link tunnels, passing traffic under Grimshaw Street, Elder Street and Watsonia Road – keeping local roads for local trips.

A significant milestone was reached in September when traffic moved on to new lanes at the M80 Ring Road Interchange, allowing construction to continue in more areas.

In October, a 30-day construction blitz for the Grimshaw Street Interchange extended the rail tunnel under Greensborough Highway and rebuilt the road bridge over the Hurstbridge Line.

Works at the Grimshaw Street Interchange remain ongoing, including a road closure at the western intersection of Grimshaw Street and Greensborough Highway until mid-December with detours in place.

Upcoming disruptions

Victoria's Big Build is working hard to build a better transport network. While we work, road and public transport disruptions could affect your travel.

See how disruptions may affect your travel at our Victoria's Big Build disruptions page.

Next steps

The first phase of consultation is underway to better understand how locals move around the area and what they love about Macleod and Rosanna.

This feedback, along with technical and engineering assessments, will inform concept designs.

We'll come back to the community with more information about the project, construction timelines and concept designs of the rail bridge and walking and cycling path next year.

We'll also share opportunities to help shape aspects of the designs.

Stay up to date

The best way to stay up to date with the project is to:

• Read more about the project at on Ruthven Street, Macleod homepage
• Have your say, ask a question or make a planning submission, visit Engage Victoria
• Subscribe to email updates and under Hurstbridge Line select Ruthven Street
• Call us on 1800 105 105 or email contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au
• Follow us on social media by searching @levelcrossings or send us a private message on our Facebook page

Project timeline

2022

• Project announced

2024

• Site investigations

2025

• Site investigations
• Community consultation

2026

• Concept designs released and further community consultation
• Final designs released
• Site establishment and early works
• Construction

2027

• Construction
• Trains running on the rail bridge
• Level crossing removed
• New walking and cycling path open