We're removing the dangerous and congested level crossing at Ruthven Street, Macleod 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. With this brand new connection, locals will be able to enjoy over 2km of walking and cycling paths from Macleod to Rosanna.

A new signalised and raised pedestrian crossing near the rail bridge will provide safer, more direct connections for everyone crossing Ruthven Street.

Final designs of the new rail bridge, landscaping and native plantings, walking and cycling path, new community space in Rosanna Parklands and signalised pedestrian crossing have been released. These designs were shaped by community feedback.

To remove the level crossing, build the new rail bridge, walking and cycling path and landscaped community space in Rosanna Parklands, specialised machinery is needed.

As with any major construction, these works can result in noise and vibration and create dust, which we'll always seek to minimise where possible.

The intensity of the noise and vibration depends on the ground conditions and the distance between your property and the works.

We'll notify potentially affected residents, businesses and community groups well in advance of works through direct updates via letterbox drops and, at times, in person.

Managing noise and vibration

We’ve undertaken noise monitoring along the rail corridor and at the level crossing to identify potential noise impacts of our works. We’ll proactively work with affected residents and businesses to minimise noise impacts during construction, where possible.

During our works, the project team proactively monitors noise and vibration levels to make sure they are within the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) noise control guidelines.

Early works are underway and construction will start later this year, with the boom gates gone for good and the trains running on the new bridge next year.

What causes noise and vibration?

The main sources of noise and vibration are:

• excavation and rock breaking
• drilling deep into the ground, known as piling
• heavy machinery, generators and power tools.

How we minimise noise and vibration

• Schedule works during standard construction hours as much as possible, 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday and 7am to 1pm, on Saturdays
• Use quieter reversing alarms on our vehicles and machines
• Offer respite and relocation to eligible residents during noisy night works, where noise thresholds are exceeded
• Maintain a buffer zone between work areas and properties
• Keep our machinery in good working order.

How we minimise dust and dirt

• Use water trucks to regularly wet down the site
• Water unsealed roads and surfaces
• Use water carts to spray and suppress dust
• Stage works to minimise disturbed soil areas exposed to wind
• Reduce the speed of construction vehicles
• Cover truck loads and stockpiles
• Use steel grids at site exit points to reduce mud being dragged onto roads
• Clean roads around the site with street sweepers.

Monitoring dust

We'll install dust monitors around the work site to measure air quality and weather conditions at regular intervals. These monitors will help us to ensure we have adequate dust controls in place in line with the requirements of the EPA’s Civil construction, building and demolition guide (Publication 1834).

Lighting

During night works, lighting is often required for the safety of the community and our workers. To limit temporary spill we’ll:

• keep lighting to the minimum necessary for safe access or construction
• direct light towers away from homes, businesses and buildings.

Keep traffic moving

Our works take place on and next to local roads. This may lead to changes to how you drive, ride and walk through the area and an increase in your travel time. For your safety, and the safety of our workers, please follow detour signs.

At times we may impact access to properties to carry out work safely. The team will directly contact affected residents and businesses. We'll always maintain access for emergency services.

Respite and relocation

We’ll work closely with eligible residents to understand any measures which may need to be taken to minimise the impact of works. This can include proactive offers of respite or relocation.

• Respite may be offered to residents and may include noise cancelling headphones or vouchers to activities providing respite periods.
• Relocation is offered to eligible residents to provide alternative accommodation for sleeping. This is usually serviced apartment style accommodation with kitchen and laundry facilities.

We have a dedicated team who will work with eligible households to provide detailed information about respite and relocation and to discuss their needs.

We’ll get in touch with eligible residents through email and letterbox notifications, telephone calls and doorknocking where possible.

During works, respite and relocation requests are assessed on a case-by case basis, depending on the nature and extent of works occurring on site.

Keeping you up to date

We work to minimise disruption as much as possible and will notify you before works start and keep you up to date. We're providing notifications in a variety of ways, including:

• printed materials, including works notifications and newsletters in your letter box
• project web page updates
• email updates
• signage near roads and pathways
• local pop-ups
• doorknocks
• SMS notifications for changes to the way you travel through the area.

More information

• Call us 24/7 on 1800 105 105
• Email levelcrossings@bigbuild.vic.gov.au
• Subscribe to the Ruthven Street, Macleod email updates
• Send us a private message on our Level Crossing Removal Project Facebook page