Early works will start in the middle of this year. You’ll start seeing our team on site preparing the area for construction.
Our construction works will start once we’ve moved into the Macleod Park Oval in October, and then our works to build the new rail bridge will happen in 2027.
Early next year to build the new rail bridge we’ll need to close the Hurstbridge Line for about a month. During this time, we’ll remove the existing tracks and build the rail bridge. At the end of these works, trains will run on the new rail bridge and the boom gates will be gone for good.
Once the new rail bridge is complete, we’ll continue finishing works like landscaping and construction of the new walking and cycling path.
We’ll also carry out works to formalise the Road Rail Access Pad at Powley Parade in 2027.
We have used noise monitoring equipment to record the current noise levels experienced by residents at different points along the rail line.
Using the existing noise levels as a baseline, we then prepared noise modelling to predict the future noise levels at the end of the project, when trains will be running on the new bridge. These predictions are assessed against a standard called the Victorian Passenger Rail Infrastructure Noise Policy 2013.
From the noise modelling, the new rail bridge design is not expected to result in any material change in noise levels near the rail corridor. This means we don’t need to install any noise barriers or fences. We will continue to undertake further noise modelling to ensure noise levels adhere to the noise policy.
The new bridge should help reduce noise generated from trains. The bridge will be made out of concrete U-trough structures, which reduce the noise generated by trains moving along the track, as the train wheels and tracks sit within the concrete structure.
We’ll install new train tracks as part of the project, and much of the noise experienced from rail operations also comes from train wheels running along the tracks, and older rail lines with imperfections in the track can be noisier than newer lines that will be installed as part of the project.
We’re also removing the level crossing, so there will be no more boom gates bells or train horns when trains travel over Ruthven Street on the new bridge.
We know how important the trees, plants and wildlife are to the Macleod community and have a team who are dedicated to minimising our impacts on the local environment, flora and fauna as much as possible in our design and construction methodology.
We're continuing this careful planning to reduce our impacts on flora and fauna, however, we will need to remove some trees and vegetation to safely build the rail bridge. Most of the impacted trees are expected to be in and around where the rail bridge will be located as well as the new walking and cycling path along Ellesmere Parade.
To minimise impacts to Rosanna Parklands, most of the rail bridge will be built from Ellesmere Parade. To safely build the rail bridge, we may work in the parklands at times. When construction is complete, any impacted areas in the parklands will be reinstated with new landscaping.
The new project design includes space for new landscaping in the area around the rail bridge and along the walking and cycling path, so we will plant two trees for every tree removed at the end of the project.
In our 2025 consultation , you told us you’d like to see native and local plants and landscaping as part of the project. The planting will feature species suited to the local area and conditions to ensure their long-term suitability and fit with the natural surroundings.
In March and April, we are inviting the community to share further feedback on landscaping preferences as part of our design feedback survey. Feedback is open until 11.59pm, Sunday 26 April 2026.
We’ll also advise the community prior to any tree removal taking place.
Part of our project planning includes developing methodologies for fast and efficient construction to minimise the impact to passengers and train services.
We will need to shut this section of the Hurstbridge Line at times to safely build the new rail bridge over the road. When the line is closed, we’ll work 24 hours a day to complete works as quickly as possible and to minimise disruptions and impacts for passengers along the Hurstbridge Line.
Initially for the project, there will be a range of short-term closures of the line which we aim to do during off-peak times, like weekends and after hours, with buses replacing trains during these times.
We will then do most of the construction work to build the bridge over a longer closure period. We’re anticipating that this closure will be early next year and will be around one month.
After this closure, train services will return with trains running over the new bridge.
We’ll give passengers and the community plenty of notice and we’ll have more information to share before works start later this year.
We’re still working through the planning for this work, and we’ll have more information to share in the lead up to this disruption next year. There will be times where we will need to close Ruthven and Chapman streets at the level crossing to build the new rail bridge.
We try to carry out these closures during off peak times, like evenings and weekends, but during our major works to build the rail bridge in 2027, we will need to close the roads for an extended period of time.
During construction, we’ll lower the road slightly at the level crossing. This will allow us to meet the 4.8 metre clearance under the rail bridge. At the same time, we’ll remove the rail track from the road. We’ll then build a new road surface and asphalt the road. During works like these, the road will need to be closed for the safety of the community and crews.
We’ll let locals know well in advance about the proposed road closures, and will have traffic management in the area to safely guide vehicles, pedestrians and bike riders through detours around our works.
The Level Crossing Removal Project uses an Alliance model to deliver our projects. The Alliances include construction partners, designers and rail operators to design, tender and, if awarded, deliver the project.
There are different Alliances working to remove the 110 level crossings across Melbourne. They work as a team to undertake project works including bridge, road and rail works as a whole package. The project also includes a dedicated team that works with the project team to support the community.
The Ruthven Street level crossing removal was tendered by and awarded to the Alliance that consists of John Holland, Kellogg Brown and Root, Metro Trains Melbourne, V/Line, and the Level Crossing Removal Project.