Melbourne’s Level Crossing Removal Project Milestone

Level Crossing Removal Project

Level Crossing Removal, melbourne,

2145 views

Melbourne’s Level Crossing Removal Project Close to Reaching Significant Milestone

The Melbourne Level Crossing Removal Project is one of the largest rail infrastructure projects in Victoria’s history. The goal of this project is the complete elimination of 75 dangerous level crossings across metropolitan Melbourne by 2025. The work to complete this project includes rail network upgrades such as new train stations, track duplication and train stabling yards.

By the end of 2021, a year ahead of schedule, Victoria’s Level Crossing Removal Project will have removed its 50th dangerous and congested level crossing. Meaning before the year’s end, a further 10 crossings will be a thing of the past on the city’s train network, smashing the Government’s goal of removing 50 level crossings by 2022.

The level crossings at South Gippsland Highway, Dandenong South; Ferguson Street, Williamstown; Manchester Road, Mooroolbark; Maroondah Highway, Lilydale; Edithvale Road and Lochiel Avenue, Edithvale; Chelsea Road and Swanpool Avenue, Chelsea and Bondi Road, Bonbeach will all be gone for good later this year.

“The countdown is on to reach this incredible milestone, with these congestion-busting and safety-boosting projects bringing huge benefits for people all across our city.”

“The team has done an outstanding job removing 46 level crossings to date and we’re thrilled to remove 50 level crossings by the end of 2021 – one year earlier than we promised,” said Premier Daniel Andrews.

These level crossing removals will bust congestion, boost safety and deliver better stations for passengers.

In a timeframe of just over three months, five level crossings will be removed and three new stations will be built in one go at Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach – an unprecedented timeframe for one of the biggest ventures undertaken by the Level Crossing Removal Project.

These removals were combined and then fast-tracked to be gone by 2021, with work including lowering three sections of the Frankston line into trenches, creating new road connections above to replace the existing level crossings, and building three modern and accessible train stations that reflect the area’s bayside atmosphere.

This huge scale of work will cause disruption to train services and roads for about two months, and access to the three stations for around three months – but completing the work at the same time lets us maintain access for road, rail and pedestrians for the longest time possible, and ensures stations are closed for four weeks less than originally planned.

The $3 billion investment in the Frankston line means 12 new stations built, and 18 level crossings consigned to history. Another new station is being built and two level crossings removed further north at Glen Huntly by 2024 — making the Frankston line level crossing free between Flinders Street and Moorabbin Station.

On the Belgrave/Lilydale Line, buses will replace trains from Friday 10 September to Monday 25 October, while major works are carried out to remove the level crossings at Manchester Road and Maroondah Highway, and new stations are built at Mooroolbark and Lilydale.

Once these works are complete, the new stations at Mooroolbark and Lilydale will be open to passengers and the level crossings at Manchester Road and Maroondah Highway will be gone.

Since 2016, the Government has removed 46 level crossings, built 26 new and upgraded stations, delivered 30 km of bike paths and is creating around 20 MCGs of open space for local communities across Melbourne to enjoy, whilst supporting thousands of jobs.

The Government is getting rid of 75 level crossings by 2025 — with one being removed on average every four weeks this year.

Source: © Copyright State Government of Victoria

Read the Media Release here.

Check out other projects happening around Australia here.

^ Back to top