A new road connection in Diggers Rest has opened a week ahead of schedule.
Following a month-long set of works, the upgraded section of road linking Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road to Old Calder Highway reopened to traffic on Monday, July 14, a full week ahead of the scheduled opening date of Monday, July 21.
The works were to remove the Old Calder Highway level crossing and the Golden Way road bridge opening.
During the works, crews worked to realign the road connection west of the rail line, completing drainage, asphalting and landscaping works, and installing new kerbs, footpaths and lighting.
About 30 car parking spaces in the station’s western car park that were temporarily closed to enable the works have been reinstated, and the 483 bus route has resumed its regular route, with stops on Welcome Road now reopened.
Pedestrians can now also cross Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road to access the station, using the zebra crossing.
With traffic now flowing safely through the area, crews will build a new landscaped forecourt east of Diggers Rest Station and complete drainage works on Old Calder Highway.
Works are also continuing to build the new Watsons Road bridge over the rail line, set to open to traffic later this year.
More than 8000 vehicles used the Watson Road and Old Calder Highway level crossings every day, facing delays of up to 36 minutes when 27 trains travelled through the crossings in the morning peak.
The removal of the Old Calder Highway level crossing marked the 86th level crossing removal across Melbourne, boosting safety and easing congestion.
