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Maidstone Street Bridge Works Transform Altona Traffic Until 2027
The level crossing removal project at Maidstone Street drives changes for residents who already lean heavily on cars for short local trips.
How we reported this
Work on a new road bridge over the rail line at Maidstone Street continues to alter traffic patterns in Altona, with adjustments expected to last until mid-2027. Crews are building the structure as part of the level crossing removal project, and nearby roads face ongoing restrictions during construction phases.
Daily commutes already stretch under vehicle pressure
Altona sits 13 km south-west of the Melbourne CBD and draws on the Werribee line station plus several bus routes that include the 903 Smartbus terminus. Even with these options, many residents cover an average 9 km each way by car, a pattern tied directly to the layout of local roads that funnels traffic through limited corridors. The current bridge project adds another layer to those existing bottlenecks, particularly on weekdays when services on the Werribee line run every 20 minutes into the city.
Friday and Saturday nights bring Night Network trains that operate roughly every 60 minutes, giving some relief for later travel. Yet the suburb’s road network still carries the bulk of movement, and the Maidstone Street works now sit at the centre of that daily pressure until the middle of next year.
Former refinery site adds another transport shift
The historic Mobil Altona Oil Refinery stopped production in August 2021 and is being turned into a fuel import facility. That change reduces some industrial traffic that once moved through the area, though the overall pattern of private vehicle use remains high. The combination of the refinery transition and the bridge construction means local drivers face a mix of reduced heavy-vehicle movements and fresh detours around the rail line.
Residents planning trips can check the latest works notices for Maidstone Street to time journeys around any lane closures or diversions. Public transport timetables stay steady on the Werribee line, and the 903 Smartbus continues to serve the suburb as one steady alternative when road conditions tighten.