Work to remove 5 dangerous and congested level crossings and build 3 new stations at Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach is powering ahead with the major dig out of 3 new rail trenches complete and 4 new road bridges now open.
Project overview
The big dig
Digging started in September, with crews excavating the 3 rail trenches - each one around 1km long and up to 7m deep. A mammoth 200,000 cubic metres of soil, enough to fill 80 Olympic-sized swimming pools, was then trucked away.
The trenches have been dug to lower the Frankston Line under the road network and remove the level crossings at:
- Edithvale Road in Edithvale
- Swanpool Avenue in Chelsea
- Chelsea Road in Chelsea
- Argyle Avenue in Chelsea
- Bondi Road in Bonbeach
New road bridges
Above the rail trenches, 4 new road bridges have opened at Edithvale Road in Edithvale, Thames Promenade in Chelsea, Argyle Avenue in Chelsea and Bondi Road in Bonbeach. The Thames Promenade bridge creates a new east-west road connection across the rail corridor, taking drivers directly to the Mornington Peninsula Freeway.
New stations
New modern, accessible and safer stations are also rapidly taking shape at:
Once complete, the stations will make commuting to work, school, the city, Frankston and beyond, easier and more convenient for locals.
The new stations are due to open to passengers before the end of 2021.