We’re removing the level crossing at Old Geelong Road in Hoppers Crossing, as part of the Victorian Government’s commitment to remove 75 dangerous and congested level crossings.

Project overview

The Old Geelong Road level crossing will be removed by building a new road bridge over the rail line, east of the current crossing.

This will create a new direct link to Princes Highway. The design also simplifies the complex intersections at Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Lane and Princes Highway.

The existing crossing will be closed to traffic, making way for improved community spaces and new landscaped areas. A new elevated pedestrian and cyclist overpass will also allow safer access to Hoppers Crossing Station.

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

Hoppers Crossing will be level crossing-free in 2022, which will improve safety, reduce congestion and make it easier to move around the area.

The nearby Cherry Street and Werribee Street level crossings in Werribee have already been removed, well ahead of their original 2022 project completion date.

New pedestrian and cyclist overpass

After the level crossing is removed, pedestrians and cyclists will access Hoppers Crossing Station via a new overpass.

The overpass will be covered by a roof, with canopies at ground level on the north and south sides for weather protection.

Pedestrians and cyclists will access the overpass via stairs or oversized lifts to cross the rail line or enter Hoppers Crossing Station.

Cyclists crossing the rail line will need to dismount at the bottom of the pedestrian overpass.

Cyclists who do not want to dismount at Old Geelong Road can cross the rail line at David Court or Derrimut Road or Skeleton Waterholes Creek.

We’ll build additional bike storage on both sides of the rail line, so passengers cycling to Hoppers Crossing Station will be able to store their bikes before catching the train.

There will be space for new plazas at each end of the overpass. These new spaces will be landscaped with a selection of native and exotic plant species that are drought tolerant.

Changes to the way you travel

Once the level crossing is removed there’ll be some changes to the way you travel around the area.

If you’re travelling from the north of the rail line to Princes Highway, then instead of crossing the rail line at Old Geelong Road, you’ll travel along Heaths Road or Morris Road to Old Geelong Road and use the new road bridge to directly access the highway.

If you’re travelling from the south of the rail line to Hoppers Crossing, then you will drive over the new road bridge connecting directly to Old Geelong Road.

Landscaping and vegetation

The Old Geelong Road Level Crossing Removal Project is committed to minimising and managing impacts to local wildlife and protecting the environment while we deliver this project.

During community consultation you told us that trees and vegetation are important to the Hoppers Crossing community.

To safely build the new road bridge and pedestrian overpass, some trees and vegetation will need to be removed.

For each tree removed, we will plant 2 in its place.

Project timeline

Mid 2020

• Early works

Early 2021

• Major construction started

Mid 2021

• Road bridge beams installed over Princes Highway

Late 2021

• New road bridge opens

2022

• Pedestrian and cyclist overpass completed
• Level crossing removed
• Landscaping works completed

Why this crossing has to go

More than 18,000 vehicles travel through the Old Geelong Road level crossing each day, with the boom gates down for up to 43 minutes of the morning peak.

The level crossing is only 350m away from the Werribee Mercy Hospital, causing delays for patients, staff and emergency vehicles.

Removing this level crossing will improve safety, provide more reliable travel times and reduce congestion at this key connection point in Hoppers Crossing.

Stay up to date

Text Hoppers to 0438 479 376 to sign up for project alerts about traffic and construction disruptions.