This fact sheet provides information on the new bridge which will allow trains to travel to and from the airport over the Western Ring Road, also known as the M80 Ring Road.

As part of Melbourne Airport Rail, a new rail bridge will be built over the top of the Western Ring Road.

The new rail bridge will cross over the Western Ring Road and Steele Creek, connecting with the new tracks being built towards Melbourne Airport.

Melbourne Airport Rail trains will travel under the Calder Freeway next to the existing rail line before branching off onto the new rail bridge over the top of the Western Ring Road.

New rail bridge structure

The new rail bridge over the Western Ring Road will be over 80m long and over 13m high, built using two steel box girders (a tube-like structure) and the piers being built with concrete columns, painted with an anti-graffiti treatment.

Traffic and detours

While the bridge will be built in a way that minimises the number, duration and severity of closures to the busy freeway during construction, you may notice changes to some of the roads you are familiar with.

This may include temporary and overnight closures of the Western Ring Road (M80). Detours and early warning signals will be put in place leading up to and around work zones.

There will also be trucks travelling to and from construction sites and site compounds. There are a number of proposed haulage routes in the local area, including Keilor Park Drive, McIntyre Road, Sunshine Avenue, and the Western Ring Road. Construction traffic will be required to use major arterial roads and avoid using local roads as much as possible.

*Subject to relevant Victorian and Federal planning, environmental and other government approvals.