Merrimac station construction update

Throughout March and April 2026, from 7:00am to 6:00pm (Monday to Saturday), works will include:

Eastern and western rail reserves

• Retaining wall completion works, including ongoing sealing and backfilling activities.
• Drainage works including earthworks, excavation, batter reshaping, open channel construction, concrete works, landscaping, and fencing construction.
• Station surface and access road construction, including road pavement and surface activities.
• Construction of environmental management controls, including culvert installations, concrete works, and pipe installations.
• Works on public utilities and services, including conduit trenching, electrical activities, and lighting installations.
• Ongoing earthworks activities, including stockpiling of materials, excavation, heavy vehicle movements, and pre-loading.
• Sewer activities, including intermittent dewatering works using pumps, including out-of-hours activity where required.
• Minor vegetation clearing in accordance with all relevant approvals, with fauna spotter/catchers in attendance.

Station Building, Platforms, and Rail Corridor Activities

Key activities include:

• Station building works, including block work, concreting and steel works, plumbing and electrical activities, and roofing installations.
• Lift shaft and service works, including concrete pours, steel and pre-cast panel installations, backfilling, waterproofing, and glazing works.
• Station platform works, including ongoing concreting and steel installations, platform canopy roofing works, and concrete pouring during out-of-hours where required.
• Pedestrian overpass activities and electrical overhead connections.
• Installation of on-track and trackside signalling equipment.

Rail corridor works, including night works, are planned to occur outside normal working hours during scheduled track closures (construction and weather permitting). Rail corridor activities (listed above) will be completed during day and night shifts (24 hours) on the following dates:

• From 6:00am Saturday 14 March 2026 to 6:00pm Sunday 15 March 2026.
• From 6:00am Saturday 11 April 2026 to 6:00pm Sunday 19 April 2026.

Gooding Drive / Station Access roadworks

Roadworks in both directions will continue on Gooding Drive in 2026 (program and weather permitting). Intermittent night works will continue throughout both March and April 2026.
These activities can only be undertaken at night due to safety, traffic management. Residents located near these activities will continue to receive direct reminders prior to works.
Activities will include:

• Retaining wall completion works, including sealing and ongoing backfilling.
• Activities on utilities and services, including drainage, water main, sewer and lighting.
• Kerb, verge and footpath works, including demolition activities, saw cutting and heavy vehicle movements, followed by pram ramp and footpath construction.
• Pit excavation, conduit trenching and electrical activities.
• Road barrier and guard rail movement and installations, including concrete works.
• Access road construction, including earthworks, pavement activities and material deliveries.
• Ongoing temporary changes to pedestrian access and movement.
• Vegetation pruning and clearing in accordance with all relevant approvals, with fauna spotter / catchers in attendance.
• Temporary removal of part of the Gooding Drive noise barrier (eastbound), followed by reinstatement.

Works will be undertaken between 7:00am to 6:00pm, Monday to Friday, and 8:00am to 1:00pm Saturday (where required). Out of Hours activities will be undertaken from 7:00am to 6:00am, Monday to Sunday.

Above: kerb being poured for kiss ‘n’ ride, taxi bays and bus routes

Traffic and Pedestrian Changes

• Intermittent delays, detours and changes to pedestrian access and movements around Gooding Drive and Ghilgai Road, with traffic management in place.
• Intermittent daily single-lane closures, speed reductions, and short-term delays on Gooding Drive in both directions, between Ghilgai Road and Bourton Road.
• Lane width reductions and alignment changes on Gooding Drive.
• Workers and vehicles accessing the site via Gooding Drive, Entry Drive, Crelga Court, Nisbet Place and Willunga Place.
• Intermittent parking restrictions and short-term changes to haulage routes.
• Traffic management and road signage will assist and direct motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.

What to Expect

• Construction activities may generate increased levels of heavy vehicles, noise, vibration and dust in the area. Every effort will be made to keep these to a minimum.
• An increase in worker and construction presence on Gooding Drive, including intermittent noise at night.
• Construction activity and heavy vehicle movements will continue to transport materials to the site via Gooding Drive (both directions), Entry Drive and Crelga Court as required.
• Intermittent use of mobile lighting towers and safety lighting within the rail reserve and Gooding Drive (both directions). Light sources will be positioned away from properties wherever possible.
• The use of machinery, including trucks, earth-moving equipment, piling and concrete machinery, cranes and boom lifts, asphalt plants and rollers, chainsaws, vibration hammers, cable-hauling equipment, and handheld tools.

Changes to the way you travel

Changes to the way you travel Construction of new stations on the Gold Coast line, including Merrimac, can mean changes to your travel. Consider travel options, plan ahead and allow extra time by using one of the links below:

• downloading the Translink app.
• visiting the Translink website.
• calling 13 12 30.

Further Information

For more information about the project, visit Cross River Rail. You can also contact the project team by calling 1800 010 875 or emailing [email protected].

If you want to know more, all of this information is available in PDF form:

• Works Notice – Merrimac Station Works Notice – March & April 2026.