The Victorian Government has awarded a $496 million contract to remove level crossings at two locations in Melbourne.
An alliance comprised of Laing O’Rourke, Jacobs and Metro Trains was awarded the contract.
It will be responsible for removing level crossings at Manchester Road, Mooroolbark and Maroondah Highway, Lilydale.
The level crossings will be replaced by rail bridges, which will slash travel times, improve connectivity across all modes of transport and improve safety and livability.
More than 53,000 vehicles use the crossings each day with boom gates down for up to a quarter of the morning peak time.
Two new elevated stations will also be built as part of the project, as well as a multi-deck carpark at Mooroolbark Station with up to 450 new and upgraded car park spaces.
Detailed design work will now begin to incorporate feedback received from the community. Hundreds of local residents have already provided input and will have more opportunities to do so as designs are further refined.
Construction on the project will begin in mid-2020 and be completed in 2022.
