Ring Road Level Crossing, Mitchell Park, Victoria, Australia

This was the Ring Road level crossing in Mitchell Park, Victoria, Australia. This level crossing was located on the Ararat railway line. This level crossing was closed off to traffic in late January 2026, with traffic rediverted to the nearby Ballarat Link Road bridge which passes over the railway line. A new freight hub west of the now closed level crossing is currently being built and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Originally the Ring Road level crossing was supposed to have closed off in April 2018 when the Ballarat Link Road bridge opened up, but surprisingly was left open to traffic. In December 2022 plans were announced to close off the level crossing to traffic in early 2023, but never eventuated. In December 2025 the City Of Ballarat Council announced that the level crossing would be temporarily closed off on the 23rd of January 2026, before it was announced a month later, that it would be permanently closed off. The level crossing infrastructure is still in place for now, and will be removed at the end of the year in December. This level crossing was a gated setup. There was also a passive pedestrian crib level crossing on the eastern side. There was one track going through this level crossing which was broad gauge. Originally this level crossing had 2 tracks, the other track was the Skipton railway line which closed in 1986. Rather oddly when this level crossing received boom gates in November 2009, it received 2 tracks signs, despite the Skipton railway line long been out of use. The disused track was still embedded in the road, before it was ripped out in 2011. Oddly though the 2 tracks signs weren’t removed. This level crossing was maintained by V/Line The level crossing equipment consisted of: Two Siemens Type 3 electronic bells. Both bells. Both bells were programmed to sound until the boom gates rose. Westinghouse crossarms Older style Westinghouse LED lights Safetran boom gate mechanisms Level crossing ahead signs with an illustration of a level crossing signal Level crossing ahead road markings with a rail diagram Level crossing history: This level crossing received flashing lights in July 1978. There is cabview footage from 1992 showing the level crossing with it’s flashing light setup. At the time it either had a McKenzie and Holland or Westinghouse teardrop bell. Skip to 6:48:    • Railway Video Vault 11   By 2004 the teardrop bell was replaced with a Western Cullen Hayes mechanical bell when passenger trains returned between Ballarat and Ararat. Here’s a Google Maps Street View image of the level crossing from December 2007 showing the Western Cullen Hayes mechanical bell: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jsWRypg9NRXW2... Better quality image of the level crossing from Rail Geelong: https://www.railgeelong.com/albums/we... By November 2009 the level crossing was upgraded with boom gates. The bells installed at the time were General Signals Type 2 electronic bells. Here’s a Google Maps Street View image of the level crossing from February 2010 showing the new gated setup: https://maps.app.goo.gl/rDa3BPVWvR1rp... By early 2018 the General Signals Type 2 electronic bell on the north eastern gated signal was replaced with a Siemens Type 3 electronic bell. And then by August 2020 the sole remaining General Signals Type 2 electronic bell was acting up where it would ring for some activations, but others it wouldn’t. It was then replaced with a Siemens Type 3 electronic bell on the 30th of August. I have a video on my channel of the level crossing in this state:    • Ring Road Level Crossing, Mitchell Park, V...   Filming date: January 2023