Station overpass in place, passengers expected to be crossing by April

LAST weekend, Ballarat Station’s new sixty-five-tonne accessible pedestrian overpass was craned into place.

As works continue on site, Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison said people with a disability, or those with prams or luggage will smoothly be able to move between train platforms one and two by April 2026.

“It comes after many, many months of community consultation,” she said. “Suggestions made by the community about the overpass’ height and colours have made this project even better… and I think it’s looking really great.”

Acting program director with the Level Crossing Removal Project, Thanasinh Boupha said the overpass is see-through with lots of room for station passengers of all abilities to cross at once.

“Those that are sitting or standing in the overpass itself can easily see out, and equally people can see in as well,” she said.

“Two wheelchairs can pass side-by-side, as well as prams, and those with luggage will be able to walk comfortably through.

“With one lift at each platform, if the lifts were to fail they would return to ground safely so passengers can disembark and a technician would be called on site to repair.

“We also have a station power back-up, a generator, and battery back-up to ensure passengers are safely disembarked.”

Although the major milestone of installing the overpass has been reached, Ms Boupha said there’s still lots to do before the expected project completion date of April 2026.

“We have to fit out the inside of the overpass as well as the lifts with handrails, electrical works, CCTV, and tiling to make sure that it is ready for opening in April,” she said.

Ms Boupha said the project was initially expected to be complete by the end of 2026 but should be done by autumn due to efficiency in design and construction.

“It’s been relatively smooth,” she said. “The team did a fantastic job over the weekend with a fairly seamless lift of the overpass into place, as well as the lifts.”

There will be a summer shutdown of the construction site between Christmas and 10 January.

Auto door and ramp upgrades to the station’s northern entrance have already been completed. Ms Addison, Ms Boupha and the Member for Eureka Michaela Settle thanked passengers for their patience as works continue.

Public transport will be free across the state every weekend during summer until 1 February.