Construction of the Watsons Road bridge in Diggers Rest has entered its final stages, with traffic expected to start travelling over the Sunbury line later this year.
According to the state government, getting rid of this level crossing by permanently separating vehicles and trains will boost safety and ease congestion in the growing area north of Diggers Rest.
Retaining walls on both sides of the 350-metre long bridge have been filled with 17,500 cubic metres of soil – which is equivalent to seven Olympic-sized swimming pools – with 838 concrete panels positioned into place to form the façade of the bridge embankments.
Crews have also lifted more than 100 road barriers into place to form the edge of the road bridge, with road surfacing works and kerb and drainage construction now underway.
It follows the removal of the Old Calder Highway level crossing earlier this year, when the Golden Way road bridge opened to traffic.
According to the state, more than 8000 vehicles used the two level crossings in Diggers Rest every day, facing delays of up to 36 minutes when 27 trains travelled through the crossings during the morning peak.
Every set of boom gates is now removed from the Sunbury Line.
According to the government, commuters will be able to use a more frequent and reliable service when the Metro Tunnel opens in December.
