We’re removing the level crossing at Maddox Road by building 2 rail bridges, improving safety, reducing congestion and creating better connections.

We’re closing Champion Road at the level crossing to improve safety. To keep drivers moving and create more reliable travel times, we’re extending Akuna Drive to link Champion Road to Maddox Road.

As part of the project, we’ll build a new walking and cycling bridge over the rail line at Champion Road and a new path along Akuna Drive. These paths will provide safer and more accessible connections to local businesses and amenities.

There'll be some changes to parking in the area to keep traffic flowing freely and safely. At the end of the project, we’ll create more parking in the precinct.

What we heard

We heard safety, minimising congestion and improving local connections are priorities for the community.

"Traffic congestion is a big issue on major roads and more options to move around should be important when planning is done."

Akuna Drive is a key access point for multiple businesses, and extending the road will ensure motorists can safely move around the area and deliver more reliable journeys for locals with no boom gate delays.

Project benefits

• More reliable journeys, with no boom gate delays
• New walking and cycling connections
• Werribee Line level crossing free by 2030
• Making Melbourne's busiest train lines level crossing free to improve journey times and service reliability across the network

Supporting your journeys

To support the redistribution of traffic from Champion Road, we’re upgrading the intersection at Maddox Road and Kororoit Creek Road.

Improvements include:

• extending the dedicated right turn lane
• adjusting traffic signals letting more drivers get through the intersection and onto Maddox Road and Kororoit Creek Road
• installing a dedicated U-turn at this intersection, allowing more drivers to access businesses without blocking the intersection.

We’re also working with the Department of Transport and Planning to optimise traffic signalling for the nearby pedestrian crossing at Adeline Street, to further improve traffic movement along Kororoit Creek Road.

Our traffic modelling considers future growth in the area, the broader traffic network, and how people already move around the area. Getting rid of 2 level crossings and building a new link road ensures safer journeys for drivers, bike riders and pedestrians.

Ways we’re improving road safety

• Dedicated right turn lanes on Maddox to keep cars moving.
• Better visibility and sight lines for drivers, pedestrians and bike riders.
• Dedicated walking paths to help separate pedestrians from vehicles along Akuna Drive and Maddox Road.
• Removing the interface between drivers, pedestrians and trains with no boom gates.

Intersection design

We’re building a new intersection for Akuna Drive. This is designed to keep drivers moving now and into the future, with dedicated right turn lanes onto Akuna Drive and Macaulay Street.

Choosing the best road design

When we develop designs our number one priority is safety, but we also consider traffic movements, land constraints and engineering requirements. The design chosen best meets local constraints and considerations.

Keeping you moving during construction

We will maintain access to local businesses during construction and at the end of our project. During construction, there may be temporary changes to access, roads and parking in the area. We’ll share more information about what to expect ahead of works starting.

Car park changes

We’re reconfiguring some parking on Champion Road, Akuna Drive, Maddox Road and Launceston Street to create safe, free-flowing traffic and new pedestrian connections.

We’ll build new car spaces 100m away at Park Crescent, so that the community can access local businesses and services.

Overall, there will be more car parks in the precinct to support local businesses and visitors.

We’ll share more details about the new parking configuration once designs have been finalised.

Walking and cycling

We’re building new pedestrian paths along the link road to connect Champion Road to Maddox Road.

• We're installing a new crossing and signage to improve pedestrian and cycling connections across Akuna Drive at the new Akuna Drive and Maddox Road intersection
• You’ll be able to cross the rail line at a new pedestrian overpass at Champion Road and a new east-west connection along the rail corridor.
• We’re looking for opportunities to build a new pedestrian connection from Park Crescent to Akuna Drive, creating more options to get around.

Supporting local businesses

We work to minimise the impact of works in the local area. Every effort has been made to reduce impacts to businesses but there will be some permanent and temporary changes to allow us to build this important new infrastructure. We are committed to supporting traders through any local disruptions.

Our teams work directly with trader to understand the support that best suits them.

Newport road network performance

The road network within the Newport and Williamstown North area will continue to perform well following the closure of Champion Road at the level crossing in 2026.

Our traffic modelling shows that most of the community will use Maddox Road and Melbourne Road via Kororoit Creek Road during peak periods.

The new link road will primarily be used by locals for neighbourhood and local business trips and, on average, will add only 2 minutes to local journeys.

Removing the boom gates will improve traffic flow and create more reliable journeys on Maddox Road, and help to maintain the strong local road network performance in the Newport and Williamstown North area.