Construction works update for Newport level crossing removal

Major construction is kicking off to remove the dangerous level crossings at Maddox Road and Champion Road, Newport.

In the coming months, large machinery will continue to arrive on site, including piling rigs to work on the new passenger rail bridges that will replace the Maddox Road boom gates. The rail bridges will start to rise near Blenheim Road and return to ground near Challis Street.

At Champion Road, we’ll start building a new pedestrian and cycling bridge over the rail line soon. This new bridge will keep the community connected and make it safer and easier for people to walk and ride in the area.

Excavators will get to work clearing and moving large amounts of dirt and rock to extend Akuna Drive, linking Maddox Road and Champion Road. This new link road will open before the level crossing at Champion Road is closed, ensuring the community can continue to move safely through the area.

Thank you for your patience as we deliver these important safety upgrades in Newport.

Why these level crossings need to go

• Up to 48 trains pass through the level crossings during the morning peak
• Boom gates down for around 50 minutes of the morning peak
• When the Metro Tunnel opens this year, there will be two additional trains per hour in the mornings and afternoons, resulting in more boom gate down time
• Improved safety for drivers, bike riders and pedestrians

Did you know?

We’ve removed 86 level crossings across metropolitan Melbourne. This has resulted in:

• 80% drop in the number of train and driver collisions and near misses since 2018
• 55 hours of boom gate down time saved every weekday morning

Changes to the way you travel

Roads

• At times throughout July there will be traffic changes on Maddox Road and Kororoit Creek Road. We’ll keep you informed via on-road signage and detour information.

Rail

• Throughout 2025, Metro Trains Melbourne will be testing new trains, which will result in buses replacing trains on sections of the Werribee Line.
• Plan your journey on the PTV website or the PTV app. Please allow extra time for your travel.

Upgrading the local road network

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, allowing more drivers 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.

What we are doing

As major construction ramps up in Newport, you’ll notice more construction equipment on site and a growing workforce as we deliver this significant safety upgrade.

The increased activity marks a key step forward in making Maddox Road and Champion Road boom gate free for good.

Building bridges

Piling works will begin in July to create solid foundations for the new passenger rail bridges over Maddox Road and the pedestrian and cycling bridge over the rail line at Champion Road.

Two 133 tonne piling rigs, each about the weight of twenty elephants, will be working on site. One rig will drill 16 holes, nine to 17 metres deep, to anchor the passenger rail bridges at Maddox Road, while the second rig will drill four holes, roughly eight metres deep, for the pedestrian and cycling bridge at Champion Road. Steel reinforcement cages will be lowered into the drilled holes and filled with concrete, creating deep foundations to support each new bridge.

Passenger trains are expected to run on the new rail bridges by mid 2026. The pedestrian and cycling bridge will open before the Champion Road level crossing closes next year.

Construction of the rail bridge for freight trains will start in mid 2026. When this is complete, Maddox Road will be level crossing free.

Linking Maddox Road to Champion Road

To keep locals moving, we’re extending Akuna Drive to link Maddox Road to Champion Road. The new Akuna link road will open before we close Champion Road at the level crossing in 2026.

Crews will relocate power and water services to make way for excavators and bulldozers that will safely start leveling the ground, to create a strong, even base for the new road.

Graders and rollers will then be used to add layers of crushed rock before the asphalt is placed to create the final road surface.

The new link road will be ready for drivers to use in 2026.

Did you know?

Once we’ve removed the level crossings in Newport, we’ll plant 145 mature trees and up to 30,000 large plants, shrubs and grasses. This will increase the tree canopy and contribute to greening the local area.

Stay up to date

While we undertake these critical works there will be temporary road and pedestrian crossing closures.

Detours will be in place to help you get around. There will also be traffic management in place near the work sites.

Sign up for SMS updates by texting NEWPORT to 0429 839 892

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