16 July 2024

We’re removing the level crossings at Old Calder Highway and Watsons Road, Diggers Rest, improving local safety, and making the Sunbury Line level crossing-free in 2025.

In July and August, we will continue preparing the Old Calder Highway site for major construction later this year.

During this time we’ll build a temporary diversion road on Old Calder Highway to make way for a new roundabout for the bridge and to facilitate access into the works site.

What we’re doing

In July and August, we’ll work during regular construction hours from Monday to Friday, between 7am and 6pm and on Saturdays, between 7am and 1pm to:

  • Continue building a temporary diversion road on Old Calder Highway
  • Establish work areas at 1 Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road and next to the western car park at Diggers Rest Station
  • Assess all vegetation to be removed to ensure that any flora and fauna are managed appropriately by qualified arborists and wildlife handlers
  • Remove vegetation next to the western car park and at 1 Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road
  • Excavate and compact the ground beside the western car park to prepare for construction machinery
  • Prepare foundations for retained earth walls on both sides of the rail line
  • Prepare foundations for the new road bridge, including piling on both sides of the rail line
  • Undertake signalling works and build foundations for new overhead wires in the rail corridor

Night works

In August, we ‘ll undertake night works in the rail corridor to the south of the Old Calder Highway level crossing while trains are not running. We’ll work from:

  • 12am to 5am on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 August
  • Continuously from 10pm Friday 16 August to 5am Monday 19 August

We’ll make every effort to complete works on schedule, however they are weather dependent and dates are subject to change.

What to expect

You may notice low to moderate levels of noise, dust and vibration. You may also notice construction vehicles and trucks on local roads including Old Calder Highway, Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road, Tame Street, School Lane, and in the Diggers Rest Station car parks. Additional lighting will be in place during the night works and directed away from residential properties where possible.

Changes to the way you travel

For your safety, please follow signage and traffic management in place. Please see the works map below for more information about the following travel changes.

Old Calder Highway and Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road

  • Intermittent and temporary lane closures during off-peak hours (9.30am – 3.30pm) until Wednesday 31 July.
  • Two-way traffic maintained at all times.

Old Calder Highway, near Stan Payne Reserve

  • Traffic on Old Calder Highway will be diverted for a short distance onto a temporary road from Monday 22 July until late 2025.

Diggers Rest Station

  • Buses replace trains on the Sunbury Line between North Melbourne and Sunbury stations from 11:05pm, Friday 16 August to last service, Sunday 18 August.

Diggers Rest Station car parks

  • Approximately 30 spaces in the eastern car park will be closed from 7am, Friday 16 August to 7am, Monday 19 August.
  • Please use remaining spaces.

Works area map

Old Calder Highway works map

More information