A new road underpass in Dandenong will open to vehicles in late September, connecting Princes Highway-Lonsdale Street to Cheltenham and Hammond roads for the first time.
The underpass is being built as part of the Webster Street level crossing removal project, with the final set of boom gates on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines dismantled late last year.
When completed, the new road connection will reduce congestion and deliver a more reliable road network for Dandenong, with drivers able to travel directly from Hammond and Cheltenham roads in the west to a brand‑new signalised intersection on Princes Highway–Lonsdale Street in the east.
The underpass will have a 5.4m clearance under the rail bridge to accommodate trucks and tall vehicles, diverting them from local streets and Dandenong’s CBD.
Since Webster Street closed at the level crossing in October last year, crews have been working to excavate 13 Olympic-sized swimming pools of dirt and pour more than 10,000 cubic metres of concrete to create the foundations for the underpass.
More recently, the team has begun painting the walls of the underpass, using 5 unique colours to reflect the vibrant character and diversity of Dandenong. Over the coming months, crews will continue planting thousands of native trees, shrubs and flowering plants throughout the suburb.
The project also built a new walking and cycling path along Webster Street, connecting to the existing Dandenong Creek Trail and providing safer pedestrian and cycling access under the rail line.
In Dandenong, 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 drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.
