Surf Coast Highway to close for four weeks

THE Surf Coast Highway will be closed at Grovedale for four weeks, starting in February, so the road can be returned to its original alignment under the new rail bridge.

Crews will work around the clock from February 9 to early on March 7 to realign the four-lane highway at the crossing, between Baanip Boulevard to the south and Heyers Road to the north.

The highway was temporarily realigned last year to enable construction of the new rail bridge’s piers.

Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time, with detour routes available via the Geelong Ring Road, Barwon Heads Road, Horseshoe Bend Road and Ghazeepore Road.

Work between the level crossing and Baanip Boulevard will include asphalting, kerb and medium strip construction, guard rail installation, bike lane reintroduction and light pole installation, while trenching and installation of drainage infrastructure across the highway will also take place.

Artwork by local Wadawurrung artist Billy-Jay O’Toole will be installed on the new rail bridge during this time, with his work depicting the area’s unique natural features.

The 1,700-tonne rail bridge was installed in September 2023 to replace the level crossing as part of the South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication, and will improve traffic flow for the 29,000 vehicles that use the road each day.

Train services will also be affected by project works in early February, with coaches replacing Geelong and Warrnambool trains for part or all of the journey from February 3 to February 11.

Commuters are advised to check the PTV website ahead of travel.

Work on the new station buildings at Marshall and South Geelong will also continue with cladding, utilities installation and canopy roofing to take place, along with critical track drainage and landscaping works between Marshall Station and Barwon Heads Road, and work to remove the Fyans Street level crossing.

The South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication will enable five train services per hour during the peaks and three per hour between the peaks on weekdays at Marshall and Waurn Ponds stations, with the project to finish in late 2024.

“A huge amount of work will take place in February, bringing us closer to delivering more frequent services and better stations for passengers on Victoria’s busiest regional rail line,” South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman said.

“I want to thank locals for their patience while the Surf Coast Highway is closed, it will be disruptive for a short period but will be well worth it when the level crossing is gone for good later this year.”

For more information on the project, head to regionalrailrevival.vic.gov.au/geelong