Final designs for the new road bridges

We're removing the level crossings at Old Calder Highway and Watsons Road, Diggers Rest.

The removal of these 2 crossings will make the Sunbury Line level crossing free in 2025, improving safety, reducing congestion and allowing more trains to run more often.

We'll remove the level crossings at Old Calder Highway and Watsons Road by building new road bridges over the rail line.

These level crossing removals will ease congestion and improve safety on local roads, future-proofing the Diggers Rest area for expected growth and planned urban development.

Site establishment and early works will start soon, followed by major construction in mid 2024. The new road bridges will open and the level crossings will be gone for good in 2025.

Final designs

Final designs for both bridges are now available. We're inviting the community to view the designs and attend an upcoming community information session.

Thank you to everyone who shared feedback on the concept designs in 2023. Your feedback has helped shape the final designs.

How you helped shape the final designs

In September 2023, we asked for your feedback on aspects of the concept designs. Your feedback helped inform aspects of the final designs for the new road bridges.

What we heard

For the new road bridge designs, you told us you wanted:

Landscaping, including native and biodiverse planting

The new road bridge designs include new landscaped areas with a diverse range of trees, shrubs and flowering plants. Planting will be native and will reflect and complement the existing landscaping, geology, and history of the area.

Natural and ‘warm’ colours, design features and textures

The colour palette for aspects of the designs is inspired by natural warm toned colours and textures found in the area already. 'Hard landscaping' elements like retaining walls and paved surfaces will be warmer toned neutral colours and pathways will be pebble textured that wind through landscaped areas. Some retaining walls will also be textured to look like rock faces and natural features found in the area.

Safety improvements like visibility and lighting

The new road bridge designs improve community safety in both areas by providing new and upgraded lighting on and near the road bridges and new pathways and connections being built, as well as new CCTV cameras in the Diggers Rest Station precinct.

Spaces for the community

At Old Calder Highway, we'll build 2 new community spaces to the east and west of Diggers Rest Station. These spaces will include landscaped gardens, pathways and timber style seating. We're also creating a new space outside the local businesses that could be activated in the future.

Screening and barriers

The new road bridges have concrete safety barriers as well as mesh screening at the maximum height of the bridge for safety.

Accessibility to be considered

New and upgraded pathways and connections are included as part of the road bridge designs at both Old Calder Highway and Watsons Road. These pathways and connections improve accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists travelling through the area. At Old Calder Highway, we're building new seating in the station precinct so community members and pedestrians can stop and rest when travelling to and from Diggers Rest Station.

Community consultation report

Thank you for your feedback which has helped to shape these designs. Head here to read a summary of the consultation and feedback gathered last year in September.

Looking south from the new community space to the west of Diggers Rest Station. Artist impression only, subject to change.

Old Calder Highway

At Old Calder Highway, the road bridge will start south of the existing level crossing and connect Old Calder Highway to Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road.

Features of the new road bridge

The new road bridge will be 2 lanes with an additional raised bike path on the bridge. Retaining walls of the new bridge will be textured in a stone-like pattern to reflect the natural geology found in the local area. The sides of the bridge will also have concrete barriers with additional mesh screening at the peak of the bridge for safety.

Lighting will also be included on the new road bridge, improving safety and cyclist visibility.

Upgraded and improved connections

New, longer bus bays will be built to the west of Diggers Rest Station to service existing and future bus routes. The bus bays will also have new shelters and seating for passengers to use.

Part of this design includes new, upgraded, and accessible walking paths, cycling paths and pedestrian crossings. These pathways and crossings will improve local access and pedestrian safety in and around Diggers Rest Station. The new pathways in and around the station will be able to connect to the Strategic Cycling Corridor in the area.

The pedestrian path across the rail line at Diggers Rest Station will remain in its existing location to allow pedestrians the most efficient connections across the rail line. This road bridge design does not prevent a pedestrian overpass or underpass being built in future.

New space for the community to enjoy

The area where the level crossing is located will be transformed into 2 new community spaces to the east and west of Diggers Rest Station. Both spaces will be landscaped with diverse and native plants and trees that build upon and connect with the established plants in the area.

To the west of the Diggers Rest Station building, the new community space will have pathways and seating surrounded by garden beds that will connect with the existing station entry and car park. This space will also have a new bike repair station near the existing bike parking facility (Parkiteer).

On the eastern side of the Diggers Rest Station building, there will be new paved areas, seating and garden beds. This space will connect with the existing station entry as well as a new outdoor space outside local businesses on Old Calder Highway that could potentially be activated in the future. This new community space area will also connect with planned pathways to the new residential development to the northeast of the station.

A safer Diggers Rest Station precinct

The design solution includes improved station precinct lighting and additional CCTV cameras to be installed surrounding Diggers Rest Station, enhancing community safety.

New fencing will also be installed along the rail line to help prevent trespassing in the rail corridor.

Aerial view looking north at the new road bridge at Old Calder Highway and Diggers Rest Station. Artist impression only, subject to change.

Watsons Road

At Watsons Road, the road bridge will go over the rail line at the same location as the existing level crossing.

Features of the new road bridge

The new road bridge will be 2 lanes, with an additional raised pedestrian path on the bridge. The bridge will have concrete barriers and mesh screening at the peak height for safety.

Some retaining walls of the new bridge will be coloured and textured to look like the natural geology and rock face found in the area.

Lighting will also be included on the new road bridge, improving safety and pedestrian and cyclist visibility.

Future proofing the area for growth

Removing the level crossing at Watsons Road now prepares the area for the planned residential and urban developments in the area. The design of the new road bridge will connect with the planned roads as part of these new developments. This design also aligns with the Sunbury South Precinct Structure Plan.

Future pathways for the area will be able to connect with the new walking path on the bridge, and the design of the bridge does not impact the Strategic Cycling Corridor in the area.

Aerial view looking south towards the new road bridge at Watsons Road, Diggers Rest. Artist impression only, subject to change.

Learn more about the final designs

Visit our online engagement hub or attend a community information session to learn more about the final designs and upcoming construction.

Community information sessions

We'll be hosting in person and online information sessions in the coming weeks. Registrations are essential. Find the session dates and times and register at our online engagement hub, Engage Victoria, by visiting engage.vic.gov.au/lxrp-diggers-rest.

Online engagement hub

Head to our online engagement hub, Engage Victoria, to view the final designs, learn more about the project or ask the team a question. Head to engage.vic.gov.au/lxrp-diggers-rest to visit the hub.

Looking south towards the new road bridge at Old Calder Highway from the corner of Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road to the west of Diggers Rest Station. Artist impression only. Subject to change.

Getting ready for construction

Construction for the new road bridges will begin in the coming months. Here's an overview of the different construction phases you can expect to see this year.

Further site investigations - early 2024

Site investigation activities include surveys, assessments, and tests in the areas near the level crossings.

Early works - early to mid 2024

Early works activities include setting up our site offices, building storage areas for materials, installing fencing, signage and safety barriers around the sites, relocating and protecting essential utilities, removing vegetation and making some temporary changes to parking at Diggers Rest Station.

Major construction

Major construction activities will include larger scale works, like digging, piling, road and structural works, to build the new road bridges. When major construction is finished in 2025, the boom gates will be gone and the new road bridges will be open for use.

Stay up to date

Be the first to know about the Diggers Rest level crossing removals by signing up for regular email updates.

Sign up for SMS updates by texting DIGGERS to 0427 840 967.

If you'd like to talk to us about the project, call 1800 105 105 or send an email to contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au.

For more information about the project, visit the project homepage.