Four more level crossings in Melbourne will be removed by January 2017, with some disruptions to transportation networks occurring during the four-month construction period.
Acting Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said a series of major road and rail closures would enable construction crews to safely and rapidly remove level crossings at Blackburn Road in Blackburn, Heatherdale Road in Heatherdale, and Mountain Highway and Scoresby Road in Bayswater.
Ms Allan said, “Our level crossing removals are fully funded and we’re not wasting a moment getting it done.
“Four more crossings will be gone by the end of summer, reducing congestion, improving public transport and saving lives.”
From 15 October 2016, Bayswater Station will close and be demolished, making way for a bigger, improved station that will open in mid-December 2016.
Belgrave line trains will run express through Bayswater during this time, with buses running from stations either side.
In early November 2016, the Belgrave line will close between Ringwood and Belgrave for a 37-day construction blitz that will see 63,000 cubic metres of soil and rock – equal to 25 Olympic-size swimming pools – excavated to lower the rail line, before building the road bridges and safely running trains under Mountain Highway and Scoresby Road.
This construction effort will also have an impact on the road network. Scoresby Road will be closed at the level crossing from 2-19 November 2016, and Mountain Highway will be closed from 20 November to 23 December 2016.
Buses will replace trains between Box Hill and Ringwood stations for 34 days from 27 December 2016 to 29 January 2017 while 800 workers lower the rail line under Blackburn and Heatherdale Roads, upgrade Blackburn Station, and build the new Heatherdale Station.
When this work is complete, the four dangerous and congested level crossings on the Belgrave/Lilydale line will be gone, and the upgraded stations will be open. Finishing works on the stations – including car parks and landscaping – will continue throughout 2017.
The government is removing 50 of Victoria’s most dangerous and congested level crossings, which is fully funded through the lease of the Port of Melbourne announced in September 2016.
Four crossings are already gone, work is underway on a further 15, and four more will be underway in 2017.
Victorian Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Member for Eastern Metropolitan Shaun Leane said, “We’re removing these dangerous and congested crossings to get people in Melbourne’s east home safer and sooner.
“The impact of these works on our transport network will be enormous. There will be months of disruption during construction, but decades of benefits when we’re done.”
For more information on the road and rail closures, and to plan your journey, visit roads.vic.gov.au or ptv.vic.gov.au.
For more details about the Labor Government’s plans to reduce congestion, increase safety, improve public transport and create jobs by removing level crossings, visit here.
Bayswater level crossing removals
15 October to 11 December: Bayswater Station closed, trains will run express through Bayswater from 15 October until 3 November
4 November to 11 December: Buses replace trains between Ringwood and Belgrave stations. Normal train services resume Monday 12 December
2 November to 19 November: Scoresby Road closed at the level crossing
20 November to 23 December: Mountain Highway closed at the level crossing
Blackburn Road and Heatherdale Road level crossing removals
27 December to 29 January: Buses replace trains between Blackburn/Box Hill and Ringwood. Normal train services resume Monday 30 January
Blackburn and Heatherdale roads will close at the level crossings, though exact dates are still to be determined and will be advised closer to the time
Additional weekend closures will also be required outside of these times.
