Thank you for your feedback

We’re removing the dangerous and congested level crossing at Maidstone Street, Altona and building a new road bridge over the railway line, avoiding impacts to important utilities, protected grasslands, and creating better connections for this busy industrial area.

The new road bridge design means we can get rid of the crossing sooner and helps minimise traffic disruptions during construction. The bridge will also improve safety and reduce congestion.

In July, we released the concept designs for the new road bridge for community feedback.

We heard from a range of community members, including local businesses, landowners, residents and emergency services.

Thank you to everyone who submitted their feedback on the Maidstone Street, Altona level crossing removal project.

Your feedback is an important part of refining the designs to deliver infrastructure that will serve the community, now and into the future.

This feedback will be incorporated into the final designs, which will be released in 2025.

Why these level crossings need to go

• 14,400 vehicles travel through the level crossing each day
• 48 trains during the morning peak (7am – 9am)
• Boom gates are down for up to 21% of the morning peak (7am – 9am)
• Werribee Line level crossing free by 2030

How we engaged

There was a strong level of interest from the community during consultation.

• 83 design survey responses and 11 planning submissions
• 5315 page visitors on Engage Victoria
• 1058 email subscribers
• 14,000 community updates delivered
• 2 community pop ups
• 21 attendees at the community information sessions online and in person
• 15+ meetings with key stakeholders

What you told us

We asked the community to share how they moved around the area, as well as provide feedback into the look and feel of the new road bridge and landscaping preferences. Here’s what we heard:

Where you live

• Altona: 53%
• Altona Meadows: 16%
• Elsewhere: 31%

How often you take the train

We asked how often people used the Werribee line. Most used it a few times a week or once a month.

• 30% use it once a month
• 26% use it a few times a week
• 22% never use it
• 16% use it 5 or more times a week
• 6% use it once a week

We heard Maidstone Street is a key travel route throughout the week.

Mode of transport used the most

The majority use a car to get around, with walking and cycling combined the next most popular modes of transport.

• Car: 37%
• Walking and cycling: 34%
• Train: 20%
• Bus: 7%
• Motorcycle: 2%

Improving the local area

The community most wanted to see reduced congestion, improved safety and better trainservices as part of this project.

Walking and cycling connections were also considered very important by the majority of respondents.

• Reduce congestion (20%)
• Improved safety (18%)
• Better train services (17%)

The bridge look and feel

We asked the community which design elements they would most like to see on the bridge and in the landscaping.

Design elements

We heard that good lighting on the new road bridge was a top priority to improve safety.

Patterned and textured surfaces and safety and passive surveillance were also in the top three, as were requests for anti-graffiti measures on the project.

• 58% preferred earthy, natural tones
• 23% wanted to see vibrant, bold colours
• 19% liked urban and industrial finishes

Landscaping

Landscaping options included native trees with grassy underplanting, a mix of native trees and plants, or planting to match the grasslands. While the mix of native trees and plants was the most popular, 29% wanted a mix of all the options.

• 32% wanted to see a mix of native trees, plants and grasses
• 22% wanted to see native street trees with grassy under planting
• 17% wanted planting to reference the nearby grasslands

What else you told us

We asked you what else you would like to tell us that may be relevant to the project. Here are the most frequently mentioned key themes from this feedback.

• Better pedestrian access and cycling connections
• Ensuring traffic flow is effectively managed throughout construction
• Clear detour information
• Safety and improved road accessibility.

Your feedback will help inform aspects of the final designs for the project, which will be released in 2025. When the final designs are released, you will have the opportunity to ask questions about the final designs and chat to the project team.

How your feedback influences design

Thank you to everyone who submitted their feedback on the Maidstone Street, Altona level crossing removal project. Your feedback is important.

The feedback will be reviewed by our design teams and integrated into the project over the coming months. This includes how the bridge will look and feel and the kind of landscaping we use. It will also help inform new walking connections, as well as how we mitigate disruptions during construction.

Next steps

We’re reviewing the feedback we received to incorporate this into the design.

Final designs will be released in 2025, before construction begins for the new road bridge.

More information about the designs, disruptions and detour routes will be available in the new year.

We encourage you to sign up for email updates to stay up to date with the latest project news.

Supporting local businesses

We have been working closely with local businesses to better understand their operations and how we can help minimise disruptions during construction.

We will share more information about detours and access with local businesses as the project progresses. There will be more opportunities for business engagement and tailored trader support throughout the project.

Project timeline

2022

• Project announced

2023

• Site investigations

2024

• Concept designs and community consultation
• Site investigations

2025

• Final designs released
• Early construction starts

2026

• Major construction starts

2027

• Boom gates gone and new road bridge open

* Timeline subject to change.

Sign up to stay up to date

As the project progresses, we’ll share more information via email updates, social media, website updates and hard copy mail outs.

• Contact us on 1800 105 105 or email us at contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au.
• Visit our Facebook page.
• Subscribe for email updates.
• Keep up to date with the latest project news on the Maidstone Street, Altona project page.