The boom gates at Station Street, Officer, will soon be gone for good, months ahead of schedule.

With the nearby Brunt Road bridge fast approaching completion, we will close the level crossing at Station Street and build new pedestrian connections, improving safety for locals travelling to Officer Station.

Final designs have been released for the closure of Station Street, Officer which include new connections between Gilbert Reserve and Officer Station on the north of the rail line and Hickson Road and Officer Station on the south.

Closing this level crossing will improve safety, reduce congestion and contribute to a level crossing free Pakenham Line by 2025.

Completion of the Metro Tunnel and a level crossing-free Pakenham Line by 2025 will make room for an additional 121,000 peak hour passengers along the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines every week. As there will soon be more trains running more often, we need to remove this level crossing now or there will be even longer boom gate down time in the future.

To ensure local traffic continues to move safely and efficiently, we're staging works by completing Brunt Road level crossing removal project first, before closing Station Street, Officer.

Construction at Station Street will start in the coming months and the level crossing will permanently close Saturday 18 May.

Thanks for your feedback

Your feedback has helped shape the final designs for the Station Street, Officer level crossing removal.

At project completion, access to Officer Station will be easier and safer, with improvements to how vehicles move through local streets.

Why this level crossings needs to go

• 25 trains through the level crossing during the morning peak
• 1600 vehicles pass through the level crossing each day
• Boom gates down for 32 minutes of the 2 hour morning peak
• 6 near misses between 2012 and 2020.

Improving safety
There have been 6 near misses at this level crossing since 2012. Closing the level crossing at Station Street, Officer will improve safety by removing the danger of trains sharing a crossing with vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.

Planting and landscaping
As part of the project, we'll plant approximately 2400 new trees, plants, shrubs and grasses.

Officer Station car park
When we close the level crossing at Station Street, Officer, access to the station car park will be via Officer South Road only. Pedestrians can still travel north and south of the crossing through to Officer South Road and Station Street via the existing pedestrian crossing at Officer Station.

Pedestrian connections
We heard that pedestrian and cyclist safety is important to the Officer community. Locals will benefit from improved connections along Station Street and Officer South Road. As part of the project, we're providing the missing link between Gilbert Reserve and Officer Station on the north of the rail and Hickson Road and Officer Station on the south.

Changes to the way you travel

Changes to local roads

When we close the level crossing at Station Street, Officer, the road will be permanently closed on either side of the rail line. Vehicles will no longer be able to travel across the level crossing at this location.

When the road closes, drivers can access Princes Highway and Princes Freeway via Brunt Road, where we’re removing the level crossing, to improve traffic flow and increase safety.

For locals who use the level crossing regularly, access north and south of the rail line via the Siding Road underpass remains open.

As part of the project, we’ll reduce the speed limit on Station Street and Officer South Road from 60km/h to 50km/h improving safety for pedestrians and all road users.

If you have any questions or concerns about the proposed speed limit change, contact us on 1800 105 105 or email contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au.

Station Street, Officer detour map

What’s coming up

In the coming months, you’ll start to see increased activity in the area as our crews begin major works.

You’ll see us placing construction materials in an existing laydown area next to the station precinct, installing fencing and preparing to close the road at the level crossing.

We will also begin constructing a pedestrian path on the north side of the rail line to connect existing paths on either side of Station Street. We'll work closely with Cardinia Shire Council to build a shared use path along Officer South Road, improving safety and access to Officer Station.

As part of major construction to permanently close the road, road barriers will be installed either side of the railway line, with asphalting, curbing, signage and new line marking to clearly mark the change to the road condition.

Once the road is closed, boom gates will be removed and 2400 new trees, plants, shrubs and grasses will be planted as part of our project.

We'll keep you informed about what's happening during each stage of construction.

Working with residents and local businesses

We’re working closely with Cardinia Shire Council, residents and local businesses to ensure any changes and disruptions to local traffic are minimised.

We have a dedicated team to keep the community and local businesses up to date and informed during construction.

Brunt Road bridge to open in late April

Commuters in the south-east will soon benefit from safer, less congested journeys, with the Brunt Road bridge to open late April.

In April, crews will be completing 24/7 works to connect the new road bridge to Brunt Road, allowing us to remove the dangerous and congested level crossing a year ahead of schedule.

Once works are complete, the new road bridge will be open to vehicles and pedestrians in late April, with new walking and cycling paths along the road bridge. These will provide a direct link to local schools, shops and services on either side of the rail line.

Keep in touch

• Call us 24/7 on 1800 105 105 or email us at contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au
• Text STATION to 0419 167 443 for SMS alerts about future construction impacts in Officer
• Sign up for email updates
• Connect with us and follow latest news updates on our Level Crossings Facebook page.

Project timeline

Late 2022

• Site investigation works
• Community consultation

Mid 2023

• Consultation report
• Contract award

2024

• Final designs released
• Major construction
• Level crossing removed

*Timeline above subject to change.