Early works starting

Getting ready for construction at Brunt Road

The Victorian Government is removing the dangerous and congested level crossing at Brunt Road, Beaconsfield. This level crossing has been fast tracked for removal, with 22 to be removed on the Pakenham Line making it boom gate free by 2025.

The Brunt Road level crossing will be removed by building a new road bridge over the Pakenham Line.

Building a road bridge means we can get rid of the Brunt Road level crossing sooner. It will also be less disruptive for drivers and train passengers during construction.

In the lead-up to major construction we have been preparing the area before we can start piling for the new road bridge.

This includes setting up our site offices and facilities, installing temporary fencing, removing vegetation and relocation utilities like power lines, drainage and water mains.

Some of these activities started in late 2022. We’ll provide more information to residents and businesses in advance of any major construction activities.

Why the level crossings need to go

• 8400 vehicles pass through the level crossing each day
• boom gates down for 24 minutes of the morning peak
• 2 near-misses and 1 collision since 2012
• 24 trains through the crossing during the morning peak.

Construction phases

Large projects involve months of planning to minimise disruptions, make the most efficient use of large machinery and prepare the hundreds of workers that are brought to the local area.

Early 2023 – setting up and early works

Early works and site establishment at the Brunt Road Level Crossing Removal Project will kick off in late 2022. We’ve started by:

• setting up site storage facilities and fencing off work areas to keep our staff and the public safe
• removing vegetation that will be in the way of the new infrastructure
• installing a temporary site building
• relocating utilities that will be in the way of major works, such as water, drainage, sewer pipes and gas.

2023 to 2024 – major construction

From early 2023, our works in the area will start to speed up as we move into the major construction phase. We’ll be doing piling works, building retaining walls for the new road bridge and backfilling the new infrastructure.

Piling involves the construction of columns in the ground to provide support to a structure, such as the road bridge and retaining walls. Piles are bored vertically into the ground and are often made from reinforced concrete.

Major construction activities include:

• works around the existing road and rail corridor
• temporary changes to local road access
• some major drilling activity.
• building the bridge and retaining wall foundations, or piling.

Trains will continue to run as normal through most of the major construction period. At times, buses will replace trains while we do critical works in the rail corridor.

As the bridge is being built next to the existing road, Brunt Road will remain open for most of this phase.

2024 to 2025 – level crossing removal

Once the road bridge has been completed, we will need to temporarily close Brunt Road to tie the road and paths into existing infrastructure. This closure will ensure the job is done safely and as quickly as possible. We will notify the community ahead of time about any construction impacts and detours.

At this stage, we’ll also:

• remove the boom gates
• tie the new bridge structure into existing infrastructure
• install lighting along the new road bridge.

2025 – finishing works

This phase is where we add all the finishing touches to ensure the road bridge is sympathetic to the local area.

This phase of construction will feature:

• landscaping
• removing the site compound
• reinstating the project area.

Brunt Road construction timeline

Late 2022

• Site establishment

Early 2023

• Major construction starts

Late 2023

• Beam installation
• Extended weekend rail closure

Mid 2024

• Extended road closure

2025

• Level crossing removal
• Brunt Road bridge opens
• Landscaping and finishing works

*Timeline above subject to change.

Contact us

• Send us a private message on our Facebook page.
• Contact our 24/7 call centre on 1800 105 105 or email contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au
• Sign up to email updates