Central Werribee level crossing free

The Werribee Street and Cherry Street level crossings are gone for good, making central Werribee completely level crossing free.

Removing these level crossings has improved safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians in Werribee.

The car park and plaza areas are complete near Cherry Street.

At Werribee Street, the skate park is now open and the final touches are being put on the open space areas, including two giant emu feet on the bridge piers, that will be installed over summer.

Walking tour

Over the summer, we’re hosting a self-guided, interactive walking tour.

From Saturday 11 December to late January, you can come down to the Werribee Street and Cherry Street projects to learn more about the designs, how we constructed them and the new open spaces.

The easy, self-guided walking tour will be fun for all ages and if you answer all five questions you’ll receive a free drink voucher from a local café and go in the running to win a hamper filled with goodies from local traders.

Come and help us launch the walking tour!

Join us on Saturday 11 December from 10am to 1pm at:

• Cherry Street plaza area near Woolworths and Bunnings for free sweet treats.
• Werribee Street skate park beneath the rail bridge for a sausage sizzle.

There will be show bags and special prizes for the whole family, and you can meet artist Richard Briggs who created the public artwork installed in the paving at Cherry Street.

Cherry Street

130 new car parks for commuters

As part of the Victorian Government’s $150 million Car Parks for Commuters program, construction to build 130 new car spaces is now complete.

The car park is located parallel to the rail line between Bunnings Werribee and Griffith Street.

Lighting and CCTV cameras were included as part of the car park design, to help improve safety in the area.

The car park is a two-minute walk to Werribee Station and has direct access to the new pedestrian and cyclist underpass at the former level crossing.

Commuters can enter and exit the car park via Kelly Street and Griffith Street.

The Car Parks for Commuters program will see more than 11,000 new or upgraded car spaces progressively rolled out near metropolitan and regional train stations across the state.

New underpass open at Cherry Street, landscaping and open space complete

The new pedestrian and cyclist underpass now connects people safely to both sides of the rail line.

After opening the new underpass, we completed works to revitalise the area around the former Cherry Street level crossing.

The open space features a raingarden, drinking fountains, bike hoops, enhanced lighting and seating.

We’ve planted new shrubs and trees around the area, including native plant species that are robust, self-sustaining and drought tolerant.

Artwork inspired by Werribee

The new underpass and plaza area feature artwork inspired by Werribee itself.

Artist Richard Briggs created Community Recordings, a series of artworks inspired by conversations and engagement with the Werribee community.

The artworks document aspects of the urban and natural landscape, and the people that live in the Werribee area.

Embedded into the ground, these local narratives are translated into line drawings that are part whimsical, part informative.

They aim to generate intrigue and curiosity, becoming another way to interpret a place through many layered references to community perspectives.

Werribee Street

New open spaces in Werribee

Kawirr yaneekau-werreeyt: place of emu resting Raising the rail line over Werribee Street has opened up 30,000 square metres worth of new public space close to the Werribee River, known to the Wadawurrung People as Wirribi Yaluk.

Wirribi Yaluk is a significant part of local Wadawurrung Country, and a place ‘where emus gathered and rested’.

A path weaves through the new open space mirroring emu travels to the river. Along the way, emu strides etched into the path stop at information markers that tell of the significance of emus on this Country. The travels lead to a yarning circle, which represents a traditional Wadawurrung gathering place where everyone is equal and invited to voice their opinions in a respectful manner.

The story of the ‘place of emu resting’ and associated spaces have been created in collaboration with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.

The design for the surrounding landscape includes shared use paths, drinking fountains, garden beds and seating, and a skate park to the east, all connecting through to Wyndham Park.

Central to the space will be two gigantic emu feet sculptures at the base of the two bridge columns – Kawirr – by artist Vicki Couzens in collaboration with Neale and Jackman. They will be installed over summer.

Here are some things you'll find at Werribee's newest skate park:

Quarter Pipes - Quarter pipes are arched slopes that allow the skater to get some air when they reach the peak of the jump. The Werribee skate park has high and mini quarter pipes. There is even a micro-mini ramp for absolute beginners.

Kickers - Kickers are basic jumps also known as launch ramps. They’re designed to give the skater a bit of elevation to do flip tricks. The new skate park features kickers integrated with the bridge columns for advanced skaters.

Box Jumps - Box jumps have kickers on opposite sides and have a flat space connecting them in the middle. This allows for an easy transition between flip tricks and allows the skater the ability to do different tricks without having to stop.

Rails - Rails can go on jumps or on the ground for the skater to grind or slide on. Like rails, rainbow rails are for grinds, however they are curved rails that come out of the ground.

High Moguls - High moguls are raised round domes that help the skater maintain speed while changing direction.

Meet the team

Undergraduate engineer, Jennifer, works on the Werribee Street level crossing removal. We sat down with Jennifer to hear all about her job.

What was your role on the project?

I was responsible for utility relocations and earthworks for the new rail bridge.

What’s been the best thing about working on a major infrastructure project?

Being able to tick items off the to-do list, which leads us to such awesome milestones like removing boom gates.

What are your goals for 2022?

I’m looking forward to continuing to learn from everyone around me.

Where’s your go-to lunch spot in Werribee?

Wolf on Watton and The Little Deli & Panini Bar, both on Watton Street.

What else is happening in the west

Major construction is underway to remove the Old Geelong Road level crossing by building a new road bridge over the rail line, directly connecting Princes Highway to Old Geelong Road. The level crossing will be removed on 9 December 2021.

Works continue on the second phase of the Aviation Road project in Laverton. The level crossing was successfully removed in 2019 and crews are now working on building a new pedestrian and cyclist underpass and station forecourts.

Major works are underway to remove the dangerous and congested level crossing at Ferguson Street, Williamstown by lowering the rail line under the road.

Fun facts

• The highest point of the new Cherry Street road bridge is 9.9 metres tall above the tracks on the Werribee line
• Freight trains that pass underneath the new Cherry Street road bridge are 1.5km long, with up to 50 carriages
• The new Cherry Street road bridge has been built with 7800 tonnes’ worth of concrete beams – the same weight as 39 blue whales
• 30,000 square metres, the equivalent of 1.5 Melbourne Cricket Grounds, of new open space has been created underneath the new Werribee Street rail bridge

For more information about the Cherry Street and Werribee Street level crossing removal projects visit our website.

Project timeline

July 2018

• Present community designs and community engagement

November 2018

• Cherry Street early technical investigations and community engagement

July 2019

• Werribee Street community engagement

November 2019

• Cherry Street final design confirmed
• Werribee Street early technical investigations

Early 2020

• Cherry Street construction begins
• Werribee Street final designs confirmed

Mid 2020

• Werribee Street construction begins January 2021

January 2021

• Werribee Street level crossing removed

March 2021

• Cherry Street level crossing removed and pedestrian and cyclist underpass open

Late 2021

• Cherry Street and Werribee Street landscaping and open space works complete

Timeline above subject to change