The first stage in building Melbourne Airport Rail is preparing sites for major construction.
We commenced early works in October 2022 to protect and relocate critical utility services along the project route across Sunshine, Sunshine North, Keilor East, Airport West and Tullamarine.
What we’re doing
We’ve identified around 250 utilities in the project area that need to be protected, modified or relocated, such as power, telecommunications, water, gas and sewerage.
We undertake the utility relocation and protection work in a way that aims to minimise impacts to people’s day-to-day lives, ensuring a seamless transition between old and new utility locations.
Generally, works will take place between 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday and 7am and 1pm Saturdays.
There may be short periods when work need to occur outside of standard construction hours. We will continue to notify local residents and businesses in advance.
View our current works notices.
Traffic management will be in place to ensure safety of road users and pedestrians, and maintain access for residents and businesses.
View more information on how construction impacts in your area will be managed.
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Overhead asset relocation
In some areas, overhead assets such as high and low voltage power lines need to be raised, relocated or modified to make room for Melbourne Airport Rail. Our current works include relocating six electricity transmission towers between the Western Ring Road (M80) and the existing freight rail corridor in Tullamarine.
Lane closures are in place on the Airport Drive inbound entry ramp to the M80 throughout the works period.
Read more in our transmission tower relocation fact sheet (PDF, 327.1 KB)
Underground utility assets protection and relocation
Typically, the relocation of underground utilities involves installing new services by digging trenches for new pipes to be laid or boring the new pipes underground. The new services are connected to the existing network and commissioned. The design, construction and commissioning of the new services are planned in consultation with service providers, to minimise disruptions to the community.
In some cases, existing underground services may be safely retained in place through installation of protection mechanisms around the exposed service, such as concrete.
Read more in our early works fact sheet (PDF, 306.3 KB).
