First look at Macleod's new rail bridge

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 and a new signalised pedestrian crossing near the new rail bridge providing safer, more direct connections.

Early designs are available and we want the local community to help refine them and have their say.

Thanks to everyone who shared their local insights last year. Your feedback has shaped the early designs.

The new rail bridge over Ruthven Street provides opportunities for new landscaped spaces, seating and walking and cycling connections.

Removing the level crossing will cut almost half an hour of boom gate down time during the morning peak, saving travel time for around 12,600 drivers each weekday. With Macleod and Rosanna level crossing free, it will also improve safety, reduce congestion and deliver more reliable travel times, building on the benefits unlocked by the North East Link Project.

Construction will start later this 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 level crossing each day
• Boom gates are down for nearly half an hour of the morning peak (7am to 9am)
• Up to 28 trains travel through this crossing during the morning peak (7am to 9am).

Early designs feedback

We want your feedback on the early designs to help shape the final designs.

Visit Engage Victoria to view the early designs, share your feedback, ask the team a question and sign up for an information session.

Complete our early design feedback survey by 11.59pm, Sunday 26 April 2026.

Macleod's new rail bridge

Last November and December, we asked the community how they travel in the area and what they value about Macleod and Rosanna.

Thanks to everyone who had their say. We received more than 250 pieces of feedback through our surveys, information sessions, planning submissions, questions on Engage Victoria and through our contact centre.

Your local insights, alongside technical and engineering requirements, helped shape the early designs.

Designs that complement the area

We heard you want the rail bridge to complement the area with natural colours, features and architectural finishes.

The bridge design has been influenced by Macleod’s landscape, drawing inspiration from Rosanna Parklands, featuring earthy tones for the bridge screening and colour palette.

You can provide more feedback on elements of the bridge design and landscaping in our early design survey.

Landscaping and native plantings

You told us you’d like to see native and local plants and landscaping as part of the project. The design will feature

new landscaped spaces under the rail bridge and along the new walking and cycling path on Ellesmere Parade.

The planting will feature species suited to the local area and conditions to ensure their long-term suitability and fit with the natural surroundings.

We also heard about the importance of minimising impacts to the local flora and fauna and the number of trees removed.

Throughout the project, we’ll work closely with environment and sustainability specialists to minimise impacts to flora and fauna. For every tree we remove, we’ll plant two new trees.

Better connections for pedestrians and bike riders

You told us you want better connections for pedestrians and bike riders.

We’re 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’re also building a new signalised pedestrian crossing near the rail bridge, improving safety for everyone crossing Ruthven Street.

The signalised crossing will connect the new walking and cycling path along Ellesmere Parade with the existing McNamara Street path.

Minimise disruptions and construction impacts

Construction will begin later this year and we'll share more information before works start.

To safely build the new bridge, there will be times when buses replace trains, as well as temporary closures of Ruthven Street at the level crossing.

We’re planning our construction methodology to minimise disruption for the community and passengers along the Hurstbridge Line wherever possible. We’re also coordinating closely the North East Link Project, to align works and reduce disruptions.

Find out more

To find out more about what we heard, read the consultation report.

Get involved to learn more

Join our information sessions to talk to the team, ask questions and find out more about Macleod's new rail bridge and walking and cycling path.

See us in person

Where: Macleod Community Hall

When:  

Monday 13 April, 3 sessions to choose from:

• 5.30 to 6.15pm
• 6.30 to 7.15pm
• 7.30 to 8.15pm

Thursday 16 April, 3 sessions to choose from:

• 10am to 10.45am
• 11am to 11.45am
• 12pm to 12.45pm

Online via Zoom

When:

• Wednesday 1 April, 2.30pm to 1.30pm
• Wednesday 15 April, 6pm to 7pm

Registration is essential

Book your spot or ask the project team questions by visiting our events page.

Have your say

We want the local community to have their say, which along with our technical requirements will help us shape the final designs which will be released in the coming months.

Visit Engage Victoria to view the early designs and share your feedback.

Complete our survey by 11.59pm, Sunday 26 April 2026.

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.

From March through May, you can expect nighttime lane closures with detours on Greensborough Highway and a full closure of Greensborough bypass for one weekend. Local roads like Elder and Kempston streets will be closed for up to six weeks as the project works to build the Elder Street landscaped bridge and the new Kempston Street bridge.

Upcoming disruptions

The way you move around the area will be changing this year as traffic is shifted to completed roads and excavation of the new freeway lanes ramps up to connect to the North East Link tunnels.

See how disruptions may affect your travel at bigbuild.vic.gov.au/disruptions

Stay up to date

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

• Visit the Ruthven Street level Crossing Removal Project page
• View the early designs and a map of the project, have your say and ask a question at Engage Victoria
• Subscribe to email updates at levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/subscribe and under Hurstbridge Line select Ruthven Street
• Follow us on social media Level Crossing Removal Project Facebook page
• Contact our call centre 24/7 on 1800 105 105 or email levelcrossings@bigbuild.vic.gov.au
• Visit our website for more information on the Ruthven Street Level Crossing Removal Project.

Project timeline

2022

• Project announced

2024

• Site investigations

2025

• Site investigations
• Community consultation

2026

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

2027

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

* Timeline subject to change.