Designs for the removal of the level crossing at Maddox Road, Newport have been unveiled, showing new connections to keep locals moving once the boom gates are gone for good in 2026.
Removing the Maddox Road level crossing by building a rail bridge allows the nearby Champion Road level crossing to be closed to traffic. With boom gates gone at both locations, a new link road and an overpass for bike riders and pedestrians will be built, to get people to where they need to go.
The link road will connect Champion Road to Maddox Road directly via Akuna Drive and will be open before the Champion Road level crossing closes. Akuna Drive is a key access point for multiple businesses, and extending the road will make it easier to move around the area and deliver more reliable journey times for locals.
The intersection at Maddox Road and Kororoit Creek Road will also be upgraded with an extended right turn lane and a new dedicated U-turn lane to ensure traffic flows during peak times.
The new accessible pedestrian and cycling bridge will allow people to cross the rail line and access local businesses on Champion Road and Challis Street, as well as nearby parks. A shared walking and cycling path will also be built on Railway Parade, connecting to the existing path on Market Street, making it safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
The project will deliver more parking in the area, building new car spaces near Park Crescent, where it will be easier to find a park and access local businesses and amenities. Parking on Champion Road, Akuna Drive, Maddox Road and Launceston Street will be reconfigured to create safe, free flowing traffic and new pedestrian connections.
Local feedback, technical assessments, safety regulations, and engineering requirements have been considered when shaping the project's design.
Early works, including installing temporary fencing, and relocating utilities, will start later this year.
The boom gates at the 2 level crossings are currently down for around 50 minutes of the morning peak while 48 trains run through the crossings. More than 10,000 vehicles go through the crossings each day.
The Newport level crossings will be gone for good in 2026, paving the way for the Werribee Line to be level crossing free by 2030, transforming the way locals live, work, and travel.
A $369 million contract has been awarded to an alliance comprising Acciona, WSP, Metro Trains Melbourne, and the Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP). A $151 million contract to deliver the Maidstone Street, Altona level crossing removal has been awarded to an alliance comprising Fulton Hogan, Metro Trains Melbourne and LXRP.
The Victorian Government is removing 110 level crossings across Melbourne by 2030, with 84 already gone for good.
Designs can be viewed, and locals can have their say on the project at Engage Victoria.
