Designs have been released for the closure of the level crossing at Station Street in Officer, which include a new pedestrian and cyclist connection on the north and south of the rail line.
Following initial construction works, the level crossing will close on Saturday 18 May, with the road permanently closed on either side of the rail line and vehicles no longer able to travel across the rail tracks.
Road barriers will be installed on either side of the railway line, with asphalting, curbing, signage and new line marking to clearly mark the change to the road condition.
Once the road is closed, drivers can access Princes Highway and Princes Freeway via a boom gate-free Brunt Road.
Access to the station car park will be via Officer South Road only, while pedestrians can still travel north and south of the crossing through to Officer South Road and Station Street via the existing pedestrian crossing at Officer station.
As part of the project, the Level Crossing Removal Project team will reduce the speed limit on Station Street and Officer South Road from 60km/h to 50km/h.
Following community feedback, the final designs include works on either side of the rail line to improve the road condition, including kerbing and signage, and new line marking to clearly signal the changed traffic route, providing connections between Gilbert Reserve and Officer station on the north of the rail line and Hickson Road and Officer station on the south.
The Level Crossing Removal Project team will also be planting more than 3000 new plants, trees and shrubs and grasses once the road is closed and boom gates are removed.
As part of the project, a link will be created between Gilbert Reserve and Officer Station on the north of the rail and Hickson Road and Officer Station on the south.
The team are staging works by removing the Brunt Road level crossing before closing Station Street.
The Brunt Road bridge will be opening in late April, with crews working around the clock to connect the new road bridge to Brunt Road, allowing crews to remove the dangerous and congested level crossing a year ahead of schedule.
Once works are complete, the new road bridge will be open to vehicles and pedestrians in late April, with new walking and cycling paths along the road bridge.
Closing this level crossing aims to improve safety, with six near misses at the level crossing since 2012, reduce congestion and contribute to a level crossing free Pakenham line by 2025.
Completion of the Metro Tunnel and a level crossing-free Pakenham Line by 2025 will make room for an extra 121,000 peak hour passengers along the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines every week
For more information, visit bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/level-crossing-removal-project/projects/station-street-officer
