We're removing the dangerous and congested level crossing at Cherry Street in Werribee by building a new road bridge. We're also upgrading the Tarneit Road/Railway Avenue and Princes Highway/Wattle Avenue intersections, as well as building a pedestrian and cyclist underpass and shared walking and cycling path.

Project overview

The Cherry Street level crossing sits in the middle of an important network of busy commuter routes, local roads and the Watton Street shopping precinct. By 2022, more trains will run through the level crossing, causing more boom gate down time and traffic congestion.

When the level crossing is removed, vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists will experience a safer, reliable and more consistent journey travelling through Werribee.

Why this crossing has to go

Approximately 20,000 vehicles travel through the Cherry Street level crossing every day. This journey is often disrupted, with boom gates down an average of 35 minutes during the morning peak. Traffic waiting to cross the Werribee line currently queues along Market Road and Railway Avenue in the north and along Cherry Street in the south.

Werribee and Hoppers Crossing will soon be level crossing-free, which will improve safety, reduce congestion and make the suburbs easier to get around. The Cherry Street, Werribee Street and Old Geelong Road level crossings will be gone for good in 2022.

Vehicle, pedestrian and cyclist movements

Intersection upgrades

Princes Highway/Wattle Avenue

The road bridge will have 4 lanes in total connecting Princes Highway to Tarneit Road. The intersection at Wattle Avenue and Princes Highway will be upgraded to include traffic signals and an additional lane on Princes Highway.

Through movements from the road bridge onto Wattle Avenue will be discouraged by the traffic signal configuration and 2 right turning lanes onto Princes Highway.

Tarneit Road/Railway Avenue

Tarneit Road will be widened between Glenluss Street and Railway Avenue altering the road configuration from the existing 2 lanes to 4 lanes. Through-traffic will be taken out of the centre of Werribee and directed to the new road bridge, making it easier to access the Watton Street precinct.

Extended right turn lane onto Cherry Street from Princes Highway

We'll extend the right turning lane from Princes Highway onto Cherry Street to increase capacity for vehicles to access the Werribee CBD. After we extend the right turning lane, we’ll need to remove the uncontrolled right turn movements between Tower Road and Princes Highway for the safety of road users and to meet road safety standards.

Vehicles that previously turned right onto Princes Highway from Tower Road will soon have to utilise the new signalised intersection at Princes Highway/Wattle Avenue or the existing signalised intersection at Duncans Road/Synott Street via Salisbury Street.

By taking through-traffic out of the Werribee city centre, it will create a safer and more vibrant precinct.

More car parking

At the end of the project, we'll build 130 commuter car parks with safety features including lighting and CCTV. The car parks will be built next to Bunnings on Cherry Street and funded through the Victorian Government’s $150 million Car Parks for Commuters Program.

Removing the level crossing will:

• Improve safety
• Provide more consistent travel times
• Improve connections on both sides of the rail line

Walking and cycling

We're constructing a new walking and cycling path which will connect pedestrians and cyclists to the underpass at Cherry Street from north and south of the rail line.

To improve connectivity, there will also be a footpath on the new road bridge for pedestrians to cross the rail line.

Pedestrian underpass

A well-lit pedestrian underpass is being built at the site of the current level crossing, connected by ramps and stairs to maintain pedestrian and cyclist access to homes and local shops on both sides of the rail line.

We'll also build 2 new plaza areas which will be landscaped with a mixture of native and exotic plants for the community to enjoy.

To enhance the look and feel of the Cherry Street underpass and plaza areas, artwork will be incorporated into the paving close to project completion.

Project timeline

July 2018

• Present designs and community engagement

November 2018

• Early technical investigations and community engagement

November 2019

• Final designs confirmed

Early 2020

• Construction begins

2021

• Construction continues

2022

• Level crossing removed

*Timeline subject to change