Webster Street, Dandenong is now boom gate free following a 14-day construction blitz as part of works to get rid of the dangerous and congested level crossing.
More than 200 trains passed through the Webster Street level crossing each day, with the boom gates down for more than an hour during the morning peak, causing significant delays for more than 10,000 drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.
The Webster Street boom gates were the final set of boom gates to go from the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines, making the Metro Tunnel rail corridor through to Sunbury completely boom gate free when it opens in December.
Webster Street is permanently closed at the level crossing, with crews continuing works to complete the new road underpass connecting the Princes Highway-Lonsdale Street to Cheltenham and Hammond roads.
The underpass will open in 2026, 2 years ahead of schedule, improving travel reliability and reducing congestion, taking trucks out of the heart of the Dandenong CBD and setting up the suburb for future growth.
Over the past 2 weeks, crews worked 24/7 in the rail corridor to upgrade signalling and overhead wiring, build foundations for the rail bridge over the road underpass and dismantle the boom gates at Webster Street.
Earlier this month, a new 266m long shared path opened at Webster Street to make it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to travel through the area.
The path through Woodcock Reserve connects to the Dandenong Creek Trail and local shops and services, and was designed to reflect the bushland surrounds, incorporating a boardwalk built around a large River Red Gum.
Across Melbourne, we’re removing 110 level crossings by 2030, with 87 already gone for good.
