Students at Beaconhills College and the construction team from the Pakenham level crossing removal project have joined forces to make artwork featuring six MCGs’ worth of new open space that is being created by the two-kilometre Pakenham rail bridge.
The level crossing project team spoke with around 90 students from Beaconhills College in Pakenham about the project earlier this year and asked them to draw things they like to do in the park, taking inspiration from the open space being created by removing the three level crossings.
Since then, the Grade 4 students have put their imaginations to work and came up with some brilliant artwork, which now adorns the Pakenham Station construction site, for all to see.
The students came up with creative ideas including skate parks, food trucks, mini-golf, virtual reality rooms and cafes.
“Using a real-life example of a project happening in the community made it meaningful to the students,” Beaconhills College Grade 4 coordinator Nicola Grierson said.
“They had a lot of fun, collaborating to create the imagery and make the areas inclusive and accessible for all.”
Level Crossing Removal Project program director Andrew Pepplinkhouse said by building an elevated rail line, the project would create new safe, green open space where there was once a railway line.
“The construction team would like to thank the Beaconhills College students for their work in creating this artwork,” he said.
“We’ve been really impressed with the level of enthusiasm and understanding the students had of the project.”
The level crossings at McGregor Road, Main Street and Racecourse Road are being removed by building an elevated rail bridge over the roads.
The crossings will be gone for good and new, modern, accessible stations at Pakenham and East Pakenham will open to passengers in 2024.
The 2.5km rail bridge will unlock more than six MCGs’ worth of open space under the rail line, which the community can enjoy for generations to come.
Designs for this new open space in Pakenham were released recently and can be viewed on the project’s website.
The design includes a three-metre-wide shared use path under the rail bridge between McGregor Road and Main Street, improving transport connections for pedestrians and bike riders to safely access the Pakenham Station and the shopping precinct.
Other features of the new Pakenham open space include multi-purpose facilities including a barbecue area, exercise equipment, garden beds, seating, basketball court, playgrounds and parklands.
Work on the Pakenham level crossing removal project is continuing, with the first of the mega concrete segments that will form the new Pakenham Station being craned into place recently.
