Early designs have been released for the new rail bridge to be built in Macleod, which will remove the Ruthven Street level crossing to ease congestion and make travel safer in Melbourne’s north east.
The dangerous Ruthven Street level crossing will be gone and the new rail bridge will open in 2027, improving travel reliability for the 12,600 drivers that use the level crossing every day, eliminating almost 30 minutes of boom gate down time in the morning peak.
A new walking and cycling path will be built along Ellesmere Parade between Ruthven Street and Davies Street as part of the project, with a new signalised pedestrian crossing near the new rail bridge on Ruthven Street.
The designs were shaped by community feedback, with locals showing a preference for natural colours, features and architectural finishes to reflect the surrounding landscape.
The rail bridge design draws inspiration from the nearby Rosanna Parklands, featuring earthy tones for the bridge screening and colour palette.
The new landscaped community space under the rail bridge has been designed to blend with the surrounding parkland, reflecting locals’ preference for native and indigenous plants, featuring species suited to local conditions to ensure their long-term suitability.
The community can view the designs and provide feedback at Engage Victoria, and register to attend an information session.
