The Victorian Government is set to remove two dangerous and congested level crossings located on Neerim and Glen Huntly roads in Melbourne’s south-east, as part of Victoria’s Big Dig project.
Crews are working around the clock to get the site ready and deliver the project more than a year ahead of schedule, with more than 2,250 piles in place to make up the walls of the 1km rail trench, which will see trains run under Neerim and Glen Huntly roads.
Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, said, “We’re getting rid of two dangerous and congested level crossings in Glen Huntly a year ahead of schedule – it’ll save lives, ease congestion and get Victorians home sooner.”
During the construction blitz, more than 500 workers will be on site 24/7 excavating about 65 Olympic swimming pools worth of soil, pouring more than 30,000m³ of concrete, installing new tracks and signalling, and building the new station – which will open in August 2023.
The Glen Huntly Road level crossing has one of the last remaining tram squares on the metro network – removing it will reduce congestion and make tram and train journeys more reliable and safer for pedestrians, cyclists, passengers and drivers.
More than 20,000 vehicles travel through these level crossings each weekday, where the boom gates are down for almost an hour of the morning peak. More than 3,000 people use Glen Huntly Station every weekday.
Victorian Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Jacinta Allan, said, “We’re powering ahead with our construction blitz, revitalising the Glen Huntly Station precinct, creating more open space, improving transport connections and making the community safer as we make the Frankston Line level crossing-free by 2029.”
The Frankston Line will be level crossing-free by 2029 with all 27 dangerous and congested crossings removed and 17 new stations built.
Across Melbourne, the Victorian Government is removing 110 level crossings by 2030, with 67 already removed.
