The Diggers Rest community is set to benefit from safer road connections when the new Watsons Road bridge opens this week.
Opening to traffic on Thursday 27 November, the new Watsons Road bridge will permanently separate vehicles from trains, and also includes a separated pedestrian path, providing safer connections over the rail line for the growing communities north of Diggers Rest.
It follows the opening of the new Golden Way road bridge in June to replace the Old Calder Highway level crossing, making Diggers Rest boom gate free.
It marks a major milestone for the local community, which turned out in force on Saturday at the new Old Calder Highway open space to celebrate the removal of both level crossings.
More than 500 locals enjoyed the free festivities, which included food and drinks, entertainment from a roving jazz trio and hula hooping performer, creative kids’ activities, face painting and an animal petting farm.
The new open space area improves pedestrian links between the Diggers Rest Station precinct and post office, and has been landscaped as part of the 400 native trees and more than 35,000 native plants and grasses planted across the project area.
More than 8000 vehicles used the Old Calder Highway and Watsons Road level crossings every day, facing delays of up to 36 minutes when 27 trains travelled through the crossings during the morning peak.
