Construction crews are working around the clock in Ringwood East to build the new section of Dublin Road that will take cars over the future rail trench, which is being built to remove the dangerous and congested level crossing.
Dublin Road is closed to traffic at the level crossing until Tuesday 17 October while crews work to complete the road foundations, ahead of digging the 650m long rail trench that will pass under the busy road.
A new Ringwood East Station and upgraded car park will also be built as part of the level crossing removal project, providing modern and accessible facilities for passengers.
Crews have already completed the 24 piles required to strengthen the road foundations and will now work to remove the existing road surface, excavating around the piles and building moulds for the 350 cubic metres of concrete that will form the new road deck.
After the concrete is poured and cured, crews will rebuild the road surface, add new line markings and re-open Dublin Road to vehicles and pedestrians in mid-October. The new road foundations will only be visible when excavation works start to dig the rail trench.
Building the new section of Dublin Road “offline”, north of the level crossing, minimises disruption by allowing trains on the Lilydale Line to continue running throughout the 24/7 construction blitz.
More than 23,000 vehicles drive through the dangerous and congested level crossings at Dublin Road and nearby Bedford Road every day, with the boom gates down for up to 23 minutes during the morning peak.
The Bedford Road level crossing will also be removed by building a 380m rail trench underneath the road.
Removing both level crossings will make Ringwood boom-gate free by 2025, boosting safety and unclogging local roads.
The Lilydale Line will be level crossing free by 2025 and the Belgrave Line level crossing free between Ferntree Gully and the city.
