Newport is now level crossing free and 95 level crossings have been removed across greater Melbourne, following a 2 week works blitz and closure of Maddox Road.
While Maddox Road was closed, crews worked around the clock to remove the boom gates, complete the freight train rail bridge and resurface Maddox Road.
This follows the completion of 2 new rail bridges which have been taking passenger trains since April, making journeys along Maddox Road safer and more reliable. The boom gates were previously down for about 50 minutes in the two-hour morning peak, when up to 48 trains travelled through the level crossing.
While locals enjoy the benefits of smoother, safer journeys, crews will continue to work in the area on landscaping and new pedestrian and cycling paths, set to be complete later this year.
The new paths along Railway Parade and Market Street will better connect people moving around the area, and the new 400-metre path along the rail line between Maddox Road and Ross Road will provide the missing link for a safe off-road connection from Newport Station to Altona North.
Earlier this year, a new pedestrian and cycling bridge was lifted into place over Champion Road, providing locals with a safer connection over the busy rail line.
The level crossing at Champion Road permanently closed in April, with drivers now using the new Akuna Drive link road to travel safely through the area and connect to a boom gate-free Maddox Road.
As part of a new timetable that started last month, more train services are running on the Werribee line, with passengers benefiting from 180 additional weekly services including trains every 10 minutes between Newport and Sandringham on weekdays.
Five level crossings are going for good in Melbourne’s inner west, at Newport, Altona, Spotswood and Yarraville, boosting safety and easing congestion and contributing to a level crossing free Werribee Line by 2029.
