Ferguson Street is a key east–west link, with about 25,000 vehicles driving through the level crossing and more than 110 trains passing through each weekday. Removing this level crossing will make the area safer for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists by removing the risk of incidents with trains. This level crossing has been the site of two fatalities, one collision with a cyclist and at least five near misses. Traffic will also flow better through the area, with no more waiting at the boom gates.
Following technical assessments and community feedback, we have identified a rail under road solution as the design to remove the level crossing at Ferguson Street, Williamstown.
We will lower the rail line into a trench that will pass under Ferguson Street. The trench will be up to 17m wide and about 750m long.
We will also build a new North Williamstown Station, including new spaces for the community to enjoy.
We will build a new North Williamstown Station precinct that will form part of the rail under road design to remove the Ferguson Street level crossing.
The larger of the two existing buildings, the western station building, will be retained and used for Protective Services Officers’ facilities and station operations. The smaller station building on the east side of the rail line will need to be removed, due to the narrow rail corridor in this area and to allow us to safely build the rail trench.
We will reuse materials such as brick and bluestone and the station veranda supports in the landscape design.
The new North Williamstown station features lowered station platforms, which will be accessed from Ferguson Street by stairs, ramps and lifts.
There will also be more seating and shelter for waiting passengers. The lowered rail will be covered between Ferguson Street and the station access points, meaning better connections in the station forecourt with no barriers or fencing between Ferguson Street and the station.
We heard that retaining heritage is important to the community, so we have designed the new station to be in keeping with Williamstown’s village feel and the area’s low-rise streetscapes. The design preserves important view lines between the Rifle Range Hotel and the old Bristol Hotel.
We are providing a generous forecourt between Ferguson Street and the station access points. This new public space will provide a link between the east and west of the rail line, allowing the community to move easily around the area and to safely access the station.
The new station forecourt will be well-lit for safety, with plenty of seating and shelter. The materials in the forecourt will include familiar design elements to Williamstown, such as red brick and bluestone paving.
In addition to the new station forecourt, there will be revitalised green spaces either side of the trench for the community to enjoy. In particular, the project will free up green space on the western side of the station that was previously inaccessible.
We will add a new signalised pedestrian crossing point at the site of the current level crossing. This will improve access and safety for people coming to and from the station. The new and existing crossing signals will be synchronised to allow pedestrians to safely cross Ferguson Street without causing additional delays to drivers.
We will also build a new 4m wide shared use path through the station precinct. This allows for connection to the Department of Transport's Strategic Cycling Corridor and Hobsons Bay City Council's future Champion Road shared use path. We will continue to work with Hobsons Bay City Council and other relevant transport agencies on future plans for this precinct.
Near the city-bound platform and new shared path, cyclists will be able to securely park their bikes in a new secure bike shelter. We will also add bike hoops on both sides of the station.