Major construction has begun in Deer Park to remove the dangerous and congested level crossing at Mt Derrimut Road and build a new Deer Park Station in Melbourne’s west.
Over the coming months crews will use 2 large piling rigs to drill holes up to 8.3m deep, building the foundations for the new elevated rail bridge. Fifty-eight piles will support the 1.2km bridge, with the concrete used the equivalent of about 15 backyard swimming pools.
The project team has already carried out early works on the north side of the station, including levelling and preparing the ground, relocating underground services and setting up a site office.
A 250-space temporary car park for Deer Park commuters is now open, ensuring people can continue to use the station while construction is underway.
The level crossing at Mt Derrimut Road is being removed by elevating the rail line over the road to improve safety and reduce congestion.
Removing the level crossing will ease delays for the 23,000 vehicles that pass through the crossing every day, where boom gates can be down for up to 60% of the morning peak.
The new Deer Park Station will feature 2 accessible elevated platforms, an integrated bus interchange, improved pedestrian and cycling paths, landscaping and modern passenger facilities. Set to open by 2024, it will offer a safer connection for residents to public transport, schools, and shops and provide swift transit to the CBD.
As part of the Victorian Government’s commitment to the environment, the project also includes the preservation of grassland that is home to the endangered Golden Sun Moth. The new station precinct will include a dedicated location for commuters to learn more about the species.
