New pedestrian and cyclist overpass at Hoppers Crossing Station now open

We removed the level crossing at Old Geelong Road in Hoppers Crossing as part of the Victorian Government's commitment to remove 85 dangerous and congested level crossings by 2025.

Since the start of the year, we've continued working in Hoppers Crossing to build new, safer connections for road users, train passengers and people travelling by foot and bike.

In February 2022, we removed the level crossing boom gates and opened a new overpass at Hoppers Crossing Station, safely connecting pedestrians and cyclists over the rail line to the station, Princes Highway and the broader Hoppers Crossing shopping precinct.

Since then, we've continued working to build landscaped station plazas on both sides of the overpass and finalise access and local road upgrades.

We'll continue to put the finishing touches on the new community spaces and station connections until mid 2022.

A colourful ticket to the past

The new pedestrian and cyclist overpass features public artwork titled TRACKwork, inspired by unique train tickets.

The colourful design by Melbourne artist Peter Atkins is based on paper tickets used by passengers from the western suburbs throughout the 20th century.

Ten different colours are displayed on the floor of the 70-metre overpass as part of the artwork. With about 11,000 tiles installed, the feature is a contemporary take on a classic railways experience influenced by the London Underground, Paris Metro and New York Subway.

The design connects commuters to stories of past journeys through Hoppers Crossing, using ticket colours and symbols. 'All those circles and stripes meant something. It's like the stripe was a return ticket, the circle was to certain stations. Your colours represented particular stations…the brown might've been a one-way ticket, and then the yellow part was the return ticket,' said artist Peter Atkins.

For Peter, the train tickets remain the ultimate social connector – 'When you a buy a train ticket, we're all the same.'

New landscaped plazas

Improved community spaces on both sides of the rail will soon be complete, reinvigorating the area around Hoppers Crossing Station and the local shopping precinct.

The new spaces feature landscaped plazas with secure bike parking, drop off areas, seating and drinking fountains.

The plazas include more facilities for bike riders, including additional secure bike storage on both sides of the rail line, and a bike repair station in the southern plaza for Federation Trail users.

Drought tolerant landscaping

Landscaping in both north and south plazas includes a mix of native and exotic drought tolerant trees, shrubs and grasses.

The southern plaza will feature a Woody Meadow garden of flowering shrubs. This Australian urban landscaping style is designed for natural visual appeal, biodiversity, weed resistance and climate resistance.

The Hoppers Crossing Station Woody Meadow garden includes native plants such as hibiscus, grevilleas and bottlebrushes.

Better parking and access

We've upgraded the Hoppers Junction car park for easier access to the shops and the north west commuter car park.

Both commuter car parks to the west of the station will reopen by mid 2022, improving connections to the station. When the car parks reopen, the temporary commuter car park located near Werribee Mercy Hospital on Princes Highway will close.

More level crossings to go in the west

Old Geelong Road is one of four level crossing removal projects currently in construction in Melbourne’s west. Other projects in construction are Fitzgerald Road in Ardeer and Robinsons Road in Deer Park.

Works are also beginning at Mt Derrimut Road in Deer Park, where the level crossing will be removed by raising the rail line above the road and a new Deer Park Station will be built.

Road and intersection upgrades

We've completed major works on local roads and intersections to improve safety and reliability for motorists travelling through Hoppers Crossing.

The upgrades include optimised traffic light timing at the Heaths Road and Morris Road intersection and road widening at Heaths Road, including the Old Geelong Road roundabout.

Save the date

To thank you for your patience throughout the project, you're invited to a free community fun day on Saturday 4 June.

What: Free food and drinks from local Hoppers Crossing traders, music and kids entertainment

When: Saturday 4 June, 11am to 1pm

Where: Powell Reserve, next to Hoppers Junction shopping centre. Parking available nearby.

Project timeline

Mid 2020

• Project fast tracked
• Early works

Early 2021

• Major construction started

Mid 2021

• Road bridge beams installed

December 2021

• New road bridge open
• Level crossing removed

Early 2022

• Pedestrian and cyclist overpass open

Mid 2022

• Station plazas open
• Landscaping works completed

Timeline subject to change.