We've removed the dangerous Ferguson Street level crossing and have built a new North Williamstown Station and station precinct for the community to enjoy. Trains are now running in the new 750m long rail trench under the road and stopping at the new North Williamstown Station.

With the level crossing gone, safety has been significantly improved for the 25,000 vehicles that use the intersection daily, as well as pedestrians and bike riders in the busy precinct.

We excavated around 50,000 tonnes of soil, clay and tough basalt rock from the rail trench – enough to fill 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools. We’d like to thank the Williamstown community for their patience while we worked 24/7 to complete these works.

Upcoming works

Finishing touches on the new North Williamstown Station and station precinct will continue into 2022. During these works we’ll:

• complete planting and landscaping works
• install seating and planter boxes
• lay bluestone pavers
• re-surface the station car park
• install 4m shared use path and bike Parkiteer storage facility.

The new North Williamstown Station precinct

Extensive community consultation highlighted the preference for the new North Williamstown Station to feature native vegetation and landscaping, heritage and village features, and well-defined pathways. The new station is modernised with improved facilities. Stairs, ramps and lifts will connect passengers to lowered platforms and allow for all-ability access to trains.

The arbour structures from the old station will be repurposed in the new station forecourt. They will be fitted with wires so that climbing plant varieties can grow, adding even more greenery to the landscape design. We’ll also plant more than 40,000 native plants, trees and shrubs around the station and surrounding areas.

The materials in the station forecourt include familiar design elements to Williamstown, such as red brick and bluestone paving. Salvaged bluestone pavers and red bricks from the eastern station building have been reused within the new station precinct.

Pedestrians can access the station via a new signalised pedestrian crossing, and bike riders will be able to securely store their bikes in a new bike Parkiteer.

A 4m wide shared path will be installed in the coming months, connecting the station with key areas of Williamstown.

The North Williamstown Station forecourt will have new features including:

• seating areas
• shade structures
• stairs, ramps and lifts to lowered platforms
• native trees, plants and shrubs
• secure bike storage facilities.

Maintaining Williamstown's heritage

The red brick western station building has been meticulously restored and preserved on the city-bound platform. The building will be used for Protective Services Officers’ facilities and station operations. We’ve preserved the existing facade of the building with minimal alterations and 2500 bricks have been restored and recycled in the structure.

Meet Mohamad, our EPIC Cadet

Engineering Pathways Industry Cadetship (EPIC) is an 18-month cadetship for refugee and asylum seeker engineers working on major transport infrastructure projects.

Led by the Level Crossing Removal Project, employers from across State Government and private industry have signed on to support these vital roles across transport infrastructure and construction.

Cadets receive on-the-job training, support and mentoring and complete a postgraduate Graduate Certificate in Infrastructure Engineering Management qualification, through Swinburne University.

The industry-first program aims to bridge the gap faced by new Australians in matching their international qualifications to Australian workforce requirements and providing valuable local work experience.

Mohamad was born in Syria and undertook studies in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Graduating in 2017, Mohamad left Syria to work as an engineer in Dubai. In Dubai, Mohamad worked on the Creek Tower – a massive engineering project expected to be the tallest tower in the world.

Since moving to Australia in February 2020, Mohamad has been working as a cadet project engineer on the Ferguson Street Level Crossing Removal Project while he studies to become qualified in Australia as part of the EPIC program.

Mohamad’s passion is engineering. He describes his experience in the EPIC program as a ‘dream’ and says the program has made him feel welcome in Australia and excited to contribute to building Victoria’s future.

Meet Heavy Harry

The legendary locomotive ‘Heavy Harry’ is featured in the recently installed public artwork in the new North Williamstown Station.

'Heavy Harry’, the heaviest steam powered train to ever operate in Victoria, forms the basis of the artwork encasing one of the station’s ground level buildings, set to house power and signalling equipment.

The iconic engine was manufactured in 1941, only a short walk away from the Ferguson Street level crossing. It’s now lovingly cared for by volunteers at the Newport Rail Museum who last year held celebrations to mark its 80th birthday.

James Voller, a well-known contemporary artist and photographer, captured super-high-resolution photos of Heavy Harry at the museum last year.

These were used to create an artistic representation of the engine which brings its distinctive wheels and mechanisms to the fore.

The piece, titled Yardwork, was specially designed to fit the 20m long utility station building, through the use of special perforated steel panels.

Upcoming travel changes

Road

There will be intermittent lane and road closures to ensure the safety of the community and work crews whilst works take place. To keep these disruptions to a minimum, we’ll avoid morning and afternoon peak times where possible. Traffic management will be in place to help guide you safely through the area.

Car park

North Williamstown Station car park will remain closed until late March 2022. Alternative parking is available at 325 Melbourne Road, and 24 Market Street, Newport.

Project timeline

August to December 2021

• Construction blitz begins, with road and rail disruptions

December 2021

• Level crossing gone
• Train services resumed from North Williamstown Station

Late 2021 to mid-2022

• Finishing touches on North Williamstown Station precinct and landscaping works

Stay up to date

Sign up for email updates to receive the latest project news, or subscribe to SMS project alerts by texting Ferguson to 0427 840 967.

If you have any further questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact our 24/7 Contact Centre on 1800 105 105 or contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au.