Piling works for the new road bridge at Watsons Road, Diggers Rest.

Major construction underway

We’re removing the level crossings at Old Calder Highway and Watsons Road, Diggers Rest by building two new road bridges. This will make the Sunbury Line level crossing free in 2025, improving safety, allowing for more trains more often and preparing the area for future growth.

With major construction underway at both the Old Calder Highway and Watsons Road sites, works are progressing well and both road bridges are taking shape.

At the Old Calder Highway site, extensive works have been completed to build a new roundabout connecting Old Calder Highway to Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road. Crews are now busy preparing the bridge for painting and lighting as well as installing bus bays and shelters, new footpaths and bike paths.

Thank you to everyone who recently provided their feedback on the name of the new road bridge at Old Calder Highway. Watch this space for an exciting announcement coming soon.

Over at Watsons Road, significant progress is also being made. Following the completion of piling, we’ll continue works on the retaining walls, abutments, bridge approaches and maintenance paths.

Project benefits

• Easing congestion and improving safety
• 2 new community spaces at Diggers Rest Station
• New and upgraded lighting and CCTV
• New and upgraded pathways and connections
• New longer bus bays at Diggers Rest Station
• Hundreds of new trees and shrubs

Major construction has begun at Watsons Road

Major construction has kicked off at Watsons Road, with works to build the new road bridge well underway.

Crews are continuing to build the eastern and western retaining walls, install the bridge piers and build the bridge abutment walls.

Piling works are complete after the team recently used a 65-tonne piling rig to dig seven piles, forming the foundations for the new road bridge across the train line.

The new bridge will include separated pedestrian access to enable connectivity across the rail corridor for future developments north of Diggers Rest.

Road bridge construction at Watsons Road, Diggers Rest.

Recent works at Old Calder Highway

Works to build the new road bridge at the Old Calder Highway level crossing are ramping up, with the new roundabout connecting Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road with the new road bridge open.

Thank you for your patience while we worked to install kerbing, resurface the road and build the new roundabout during round-the-clock works in March.

The roundabout will ensure safer and smoother traffic flow across the bridge and into the heart of Diggers Rest.

Since completing retaining walls and installing beams to form the new road bridge earlier this year, we have been hard at work pouring about 800 cubic metres of concrete to form the base slab for the bridge and preparing the bridge for surfacing works.

We’ll continue to construct the new road bridge, bus bays and bus shelters, install footpaths and bike paths and build the new exit from the western station car park onto the bridge.

The bridge will take traffic over the rail line south of Stan Payne Reserve, before turning north and connecting to Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road. It includes a raised cycling path to separate vehicles and cyclists.

Diggers Rest leading the charge to cut carbon emissions

We’re busy finding ways to cut carbon emissions while we build the new road bridge over Old Calder Highway.

Calcined Clay

We've used calcined clay as a substitute for cement in concrete to help lower our carbon emissions.

Calcined clay is clay that has been heated to over 650 degrees celsius to become a binding agent in concrete, allowing less cement to be used.

The Diggers Rest level crossing removals are the first to trial and use calcined clay as a substitute for cement in concrete in the rail industry in Victoria.

Volcanic rock back fill

The project team has also sourced over 10,000 cubic metres of volcanic rock from a local quarry to use as backfill for the new road bridge at Old Calder Highway over the rail line.

Transporting the mix of soil and crushed rock from a quarry located just seven kilometres from site has cut the distance trucks have travelled and saved about 616 tonnes of carbon emissions.

Glass fibre straps and reinforced polymer bars

Carbon emissions have also been saved through the use of glass fibre straps and reinforced polymer bars that require five times less energy to produce, are two times stronger and 75% lighter than steel alternatives.

The synthetic bars are used to support sections of the bridge’s retaining walls, made up of 450 concrete panels.

Calcined clay concrete used on site to form the base slabs of the crew facilities.

Out and about in Diggers Rest

While we've been working in the area, our team has been engaging with the community about upcoming works and disruptions.

We've hosted pop-ups at Diggers Rest Station and Rosenthal Shopping Centre to let commuters know about upcoming rail and car park impacts.

We'll be out and about in the coming weeks so keep an eye out for us.

Upcoming disruptions in Diggers Rest

Diggers Rest Station western car park

• Up to 20 spaces will be closed intermittently in the western car park to safely facilitate project works until 5pm, Friday 30 May. Please use remaining available spaces. Intermittent traffic management will be in place during this time.

Old Calder Highway and Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road

• Intermittent and temporary lane closures. Two-way traffic will be maintained at all times until Friday 30 May during off-peak hours, 9.30am to 3.30pm.

Diggers Rest road closure and way-finding map

Project timeline

Late 2022

• Site investigations and planning works

2023

• Community consultation
• Site investigations continue
• Concept designs released
• Further community consultation

Early 2024

• Final designs released

Mid 2024

• Site establishment and early works underway at Old Calder Highway and Watsons Road
• Major construction starts at Old Calder Highway

March 2024

• Final designs released

Early 2025

• Major construction starts at Watsons Road

2025

• Level crossings removed

* Timeline subject to change.

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.