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The Geelong community has been given its first glimpse at the designs for the upgrades to be delivered as part of the South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication. The local Geelong community has the opportunity to provide feedback on all aspects of the project. Shortlisted contractors have also been announced and selected to provide detailed proposals to deliver the project.
Concept designs revealed
The early concept designs have been revealed for level crossing removals and station upgrades, with feedback being sought from locals and passengers on these key aspects of the project during community consultation.
The designs released include elevated rail bridges for level crossing removals at Fyans Street and Surf Coast Highway which will boost safety and traffic flow for around 36,000 vehicles that travel through these areas every day.
A new rail bridge will remove trains from the complex five-way roundabout at Fyans Street in South Geelong, improving traffic flow and safety for motorists, while the rail line at Surf Coast Highway will be elevated and moved away from local residences, creating new green open spaces between homes and trains.
South Geelong and Marshall stations will be completely rebuilt with new station buildings and forecourts, second platforms and accessible pedestrian overpasses, improved shelters and wayfinding, as well as more than 200 new parking spaces at Marshall, to service the growing communities south of Geelong.
More than 5 kilometres of new shared user paths will be created to link to existing trails and paths and create a continuous connection for cyclists and pedestrians between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds for the first time.
The project will duplicate around 8 kilometres of track and upgrade signalling between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds to deliver additional services to Marshall and Waurn Ponds stations, allowing 5 services per hour during peak times and 3 per hour between the peaks.
Community invited to have their say
The local Geelong community has the opportunity to provide feedback on all aspects of the project during community consultation, which is open until Sunday 5 September.
Locals and passengers can have their say on the early concept designs by completing an online survey, to help the project team understand what is most important to the community and what local considerations should be known about in relation to the project.
It's a chance for the community to provide feedback on how the project designs can reflect and enhance the local area, including landscaping and urban design outcomes, to help inform this critical transformation of the line.
A virtual information room is available to help people learn about the project, giving the community a 24-hour-a-day online resource to explore.
To have your say visit Engage Victoria and complete the online survey by 5pm Sunday 5 September.
Shortlisted contractors announced
The shortlisted contractors to deliver the South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication have been also been announced.
Two consortia, comprised of major construction and engineering firms, have been selected to provide detailed proposals to deliver the project.
The shortlisted bidders are CUBG, comprising CPB Contractors, UGL, Beca and GHD, and the Djilang Alliance, comprising McConnell Dowell, Downer, Arup and WSP Australia.
The contract for the South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication is planned to be awarded by mid-2022.
Construction on the project is expected to commence at the end of 2022 and is targeted for completion in late 2024.