Major works starting at Aircraft Station

New underpass and car park coming soon

In early March, construction started at Aircraft Station to build a pedestrian and cyclist underpass.

We'll also build 100 new and upgraded car spaces at Aircraft Station as part of the Car Parks for Commuters program.

Soon pedestrians and cyclists will have safer and easier access to Aircraft Station via a wide and well-lit underpass that will connect Maher Road and the car park on Triholm Avenue.

We will also complete landscaping and upgrades to the station forecourts, to refresh the precinct.

Major works have kicked off and the underpass and car park will be completed by late 2021.

Better station connections

We'll improve access to Aircraft Station, making it easier and safer for the community to move around the precinct.

New pedestrian and cyclist underpass

The well-lit new connection will be about 25m long, 8m wide and 3m high. Passengers coming from the south of the rail line will enter via the new station forecourt next to the upgraded car park. From the north, passengers will access the underpass via another new forecourt.

There will be 3m wide ramps at the north and south entrances, as well as in the middle of the underpass for easy access to the platforms.

Natural light will filter into the underpass from the gaps between the train tracks overhead, and it will be well-lit at night for the safety of the community.

New station forecourts and landscaping

The area around Aircraft Station will be revitalised with brand new station forecourts and landscaping that will complement the local area.

Both the northern and southern forecourts will have seating, shade, bike parking and garden beds. The new landscaping will be a mix of native and exotic plant species, which are drought-tolerant and consistent with landscaping in the local area.

Aircraft Station car parking

During community consultation in 2018, we heard that you'd like to see more formalised car parking at Aircraft Station. As part of the stage 2 works, we will build 100 new and upgraded car spaces at Aircraft Station as part of the Car Parks for Commuters program.

Benefits of the updated station precinct

Safer and easier access to the station

Passengers will have direct access to the platforms via the underpass, meaning no more waiting at safety gates.

Better connections for pedestrians and cyclists

Pedestrians and cyclists will have the option to cross the rail line using either the new underpass or the walking paths and bike lanes on the Maher Road bridge.

Direct access from the RAAF base to local businesses

People working, training or studying at the RAAF base will have a new direct connection to the local shops on Aviation Road.

Improved station look and feel

The new landscaping, station forecourt features and car park will revitalise the station precinct.

More car spaces

Providing more car parking at Aircraft Station will free up local streets and better utilise the space already available.

Future-proofing for other projects in the area

The underpass design allows for expansion of the rail corridor for the Geelong Fast Rail project.

Our new site office

In late 2020 we set up our site compound to the east of Aircraft Station. This area will be used for the duration of the project and includes site offices, staff parking and space for storing construction equipment and materials.

We've commenced major works, starting with building 650m of temporary track to the north of the freight rail line, which will allow these important freight services to continue during our works.

The pedestrian crossing on the north side of Aircraft Station, which leads to the RAAF base, will be closed from early February 2021 until late 2021 while we build the new underpass.

What to expect during works

To safely build the underpass, we'll need to close several car parking spaces from March. There will be times when we need to work 24 hours a day to complete piling and excavate hard rock beneath the underpass.

The large volume of soil that needs to be removed from the site will also temporarily result in more trucks on local roads.

In mid 2021, we'll start to build the 100 new and upgraded car spaces at Aircraft Station.

In late 2021, we'll complete the station forecourt upgrades and landscaping, and the underpass and car park will open.

Project timeline

2017

• Community consultation on level crossing removal design options

2018

• Road bridge announced for level crossing removal
• Community consultation

2019

• Start of major works

2020

• Landscaping works

Early 2021

• Underpass construction begins
• Car park upgrade begins

Late 2021

• Underpass and car park complete

*Timeline above subject to change.