Work to remove the Cherry Street level crossing in Werribee will soon get underway to improve safety, reduce congestion and transform local connections.

Member for Werribee Tim Pallas today confirmed the design of a new road bridge to remove the Cherry Street level crossing, to be built east of the existing crossing to connect Tarneit Road and the Princes Highway.

A well-lit, accessible pedestrian underpass will also be built to maintain pedestrian and cyclist access to homes and local shops.

The project will ultimately create a safer shopping precinct, improve traffic flow and provide a more reliable journey for those travelling to and from the Princes Freeway.

The preferred option of a road bridge followed extensive design and site assessments. It means no impact to a major oil pipeline and only minor road and rail disruptions during construction, compared to other designs.

Community feedback played an important role in shaping the project. During consultation, the community preference was for signalised intersections instead of roundabouts and this has now been incorporated into the design.

To improve connectivity, there will also be a footpath on the new road bridge, while a shared-use path will be built south of the Werribee line between the pedestrian underpass and the south end of the bridge.

Major work on the project is expected to start next year, with a site office to be established along the rail corridor east of the Cherry Street level crossing once a contract has been awarded.

To finalise designs for Cherry Street, locals will be invited to provide more feedback at upcoming community sessions on aspects of the project, such as pedestrian underpass designs and the type of plants used in landscaping.

There will be changes to the way people travel at times during construction, with work to be closely coordinated across all level crossing removal sites along the Werribee line.

Meanwhile, planning is progressing for final designs at Old Geelong Road in Hoppers Crossing and Werribee Street in Werribee. Further engagement with the community will take place next year once they are confirmed.

All three crossings in the Wyndham area will be gone for good in 2022. Visit levelcrossings.vic.gov.au for more information and to sign up for email updates.