29 October 2021

What to expect during construction

We’re removing the dangerous and congested level crossings at McGregor Road, Main Street and Racecourse Road by building a rail bridge over the roads and building new stations at Pakenham and East Pakenham.

The Victorian Government has fast-tracked these level crossings for removal as part of a $15 billion investment to upgrade the Pakenham Line which will be boom gate free by 2025.

Pakenham will be level crossing free, with all boom gates gone for good in 2023/24. The new stations and new open space under the rail bridge will be ready for locals to enjoy in 2024.

Removing these crossings will improve safety, reduce congestion and allow more trains, more often.

Creating a level crossing-free Pakenham will change how locals live, work and travel with local roads safer and journeys faster.

To build the rail bridge, specialised machinery is needed. As with any major construction, this can result in noise and vibration.

While we build the new rail bridge, we have management plans in place to mitigate the impacts of any:

  • noise and vibration
  • light spill during nightworks
  • dust and mud
  • traffic congestion.

Reducing noise and vibration

Noise and vibration management is a critical part of our planning process before construction.

To minimise potential noise and vibration impacts to local residents, we:

  • schedule works during the daytime as much as possible, generally from 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 3pm Saturdays
  • use temporary noise mounds and barriers where appropriate
  • use quieter reversing alarms on our vehicles and machines.

At times, we'll have to work during the night. When 24-hour work is anticipated, we’ll provide you with plenty of notice.

During our works, the project team monitors noise and vibration levels to make sure they are within the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) noise control guidelines.

Visit EPA website to find out more about the guidelines.

If our works significantly disturb you, please call us on 1800 105 105 or email contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to discuss your options.

Keeping traffic moving

Our works take place on and next to key local and arterial roads. This may lead to occasional changes to how you drive, cycle and walk through the area and potentially cause delays. We'll provide you with plenty of notice so you can plan your travel. For your safety, and the safety of our workers, follow the signs in place.

At times we may impact access to properties to carry out work safely. The team will directly contact affected residents and business owners.

We will always maintain access for emergency services.

Temporary lighting during night works

At times, we’ll need to light up an area for the safety of the community and our workers.

To minimise the potential for any temporary spill from lighting towers, we:

  • keep the amount of light to the minimum necessary for safe access or construction
  • direct light towers away from homes, businesses and public buildings.

Dust and mud management

We'll use a range of measures to minimise dust during construction, including:

  • placing dust monitors at strategic locations
  • using water carts to spray and suppress dust on hot days
  • wherever possible, planning topsoil removal and levelling on less windy days
  • staging works to minimise exposed areas
  • limiting speeds and using crushed rock on long-term construction access roads
  • covering truck loads and stockpiles with excess soil
  • installing angled iron at entry points of the work site to minimise dirt and mud on public roads.

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