$1bn worth of VIC road & rail projects to be delivered as part of winter construction blitz

More than $1 billion worth of road and rail projects will be delivered as part of a winter blitz of works to help ease congestion as well as improve connectivity and create a safer transport network across Melbourne’s growing south east. 

These works will include building two new stations and removing three level crossings in Pakenham. The new Pakenham and East Pakenham stations are due to open in early June with the three level crossings at McGregor Road, Main Street and Racecourse Road gone. 

“We are charging ahead to deliver transformative road and rail projects across Melbourne’s south east – which will ease congestion and make our transport network safer,” Minister for Transport Infrastructure Danny Pearson said. 

From 17 May to early June, buses will be replacing train services between Berwick and Pakenham to allow crews to work around the clock to demolish the existing Pakenham Station and build the elevated 2.5-kilometre rail bridge. 

These works are delivered as part of a bumper project to make the Pakenham line level crossing-free by 2025, allowing for more trains to run more often once Metro Tunnel opens and making train services more reliable by enabling Metro and V/Line trains to cross over and bypass each other. 

The Pakenham line will also be extended to East Pakenham as part of the works. It will include constructing a new station that features 300 car parks, bike facilities, bus bays and pick-up and drop-off zones near the station. 

In winter, two level crossings in Parkdale will be removed with a construction blitz starting in mid-July. This will pave the way for a brand-new Parkdale Station to open by spring. 

“These projects will transform our growing Pakenham community – along with the brand-new Pakenham Station, the new East Pakenham Station will improve reliability and help get thousands of locals to where they need to go,” Member for Pakenham Emma Vulin said. 

“Parkdale level crossings will soon be a thing of the past – boosting safety and easing congestion for our community,” Member for Mordialloc Tim Richardson said. 

Meanwhile, all lanes on the Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road Upgrade will open by July – 18 months ahead of schedule. This jointly funded project is part of the Suburban Roads Upgrades – South Eastern and Northern Roads project that aims to deliver new traffic lights and an extra lane in each direction between Southeast Boulevard and Manks Road. 

Stage 1 of the $391.5 million Pakenham Road Upgrade project is also underway, delivered by Major Road Projects Victoria. This project includes a new outbound entry ramp from McGregor Road to the freeway – to be completed in May – and a new bridge over the Princes Freeway that is due to open in June. 

Source: Premier of Victoria – Media Centre; Victoria’s Big Build; Infrastructure Magazine