Sunbury Line back up and running

On Tuesday 1 November, trains travelled beneath both Main Road and Furlong Road for the first time ever. The new St Albans and Ginifer stations also opened with commuters catching trains from the lowered platforms.

It has been a massive undertaking to lower the rail line underneath Main and Furlong roads and connect it back to the existing tracks within just four weeks. Over 700 staff completed more than 176,000 hours this October!

The excavated material removed during the major works was equivalent to approximately 18 Olympic sized swimming pools. Some of the large rock was then crushed off site and recycled back into the project, for road paving and track support.

The project team worked around the clock to ensure the stations were operational when trains resumed on the Sunbury line. Work will continue around the stations until next year on car parks, landscaping, pedestrian bridges and a new bus interchange at St Albans.

A massive thank you to the community and commuters for your patience and understanding during major construction.

Road works ahead

Furlong Road is now open to traffic and the old rail tracks and boom gates are gone forever. Over the two-week road closure, the project team completed drainage works, upgraded traffic signals and laid new asphalt for a seamless drive over the once dangerous rail crossing.

With Furlong Road now open the focus has turned to Main Road works.

The Main Road level crossing is closed from 9pm Friday 4 November until 5am Monday 28 November. A section of Main Road, McKechnie Street, West and East Esplanades will also be closed to complete required intersection works.

During the road closures the project team will be:

• finishing the east approach slab for the Main Road bridge
• carrying out kerb, drainage, road widening and pavement works on Main Road and West Esplanade
• relocating and installing new traffic signals, a signalling control system, pits and conduits on Main Road
• laying new asphalt and line marking on all new surfaces around the intersections
• building new footpaths and landscaping on Main Road
• installing public lighting and CCTV
• constructing the new 'Kiss and Ride' and Bus Interchange for St Albans Station.

Changes to the way you travel

Parking changes this November

With work continuing around the stations and at Main Road, changes to parking remain.

Eleven angled street parking spaces will be closed on Main Road West to allow for road widening, intersection works and reconstruction as parallel car spaces.

Please observe all signage and instructions from our traffic teams during this time.

Pedestrian crossing – Ruth Street delay

Please note that the opening of the new Ruth Street pedestrian crossing bridge will be delayed to the end of November. The pedestrian crossing at Inner Circus will remain open as a safe crossing zone.

Community corner

During major works in October, we held weekly community Q&A sessions and viewing nights complete with free hot chocolates for those who turned up in their pyjamas.

Despite the cold weather on a couple of evenings, local community members turned up armed with plenty of interesting questions.

We hope everyone enjoyed watching the works in progress.

While Main Road is closed the traders in St Albans are open and appreciate your continued business.