By Mitchell Clarke
Mid-February will mark the beginning of major works on the Cardinia Road level crossing project and motorists and public transport users can expect further disruptions.
Piling works are currently underway and major works to prepare the rail network for the new road bridge is set to kick off this month.
Cardinia Road will be closed to traffic between Henry and Bridge roads and Shearwater Drive and Arena Parade during overnight works from Wednesday 12 February to Friday 14 February.
Those roads will also close for an entire weekend from 9pm on Friday 21 February and won’t re-open until 5.30am on Monday 24 February.
Vehicles can detour via the Princes Highway, Station Street, Bridge Road, Princess Highway and McGregor Road. Shearwater Drive and Arena Parade will not be affected by these works.
The pedestrian crossing on the eastern side of Cardinia Road will also be closed over the weekend, between Friday 21 February and Monday 24 February.
Meanwhile across the rail network, buses will replace trains between Dandenong and Pakenham from 8.30pm to the last train on Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 February.
The following week, buses will again replace trains between Westall and Cranbourne/Pakenham from 8.30pm on Friday 21 February to the last train on Sunday 23 February.
Cardinia Road is one of 17 level crossings to be removed on the Pakenham line and will be replaced by a road bridge over the rail line.
Congested level crossings at Racecourse Road, McGregor Road and Main Street level crossings will all be replaced with a rail over road design by 2025.
