The Frankston Line has received a new station and two more level crossings have been removed.
Parkdale station opened to passengers for the first time on Friday 2 August.
Works will continue on new lifts, to create nearly two MCGs worth of open space, and recreational facilities including a basketball half court, open-air gym, village green, a community garden and play area.
Once complete, passengers will enjoy Parkdale Station’s modern facilities, filled with natural light and featuring a forecourt, gathering places for locals, more lighting, station precinct parking and better CCTV.
By 2025, a new shared use path will connect Parkdale to Cheltenham via Mentone and set the groundwork for a future connection to Mordialloc.
More than 100,000 trees, shrubs and grasses will be planted in the area as part of the project, increasing vegetation and greenery in the area.
Parkers Road in Parkdale will reopen to vehicles on 8 August, improving journeys for more than 20,000 vehicles travelling through the former level crossings each weekday, where the boom gates were down for up to 44 minutes during the morning peak.
The Victorian Government is working to make the Frankston Line level crossing free by 2029 – meaning shorter commutes and a more reliable transport network.
Across Melbourne, 84 level crossings are gone for good – saving more than 50 hours of boom gate down time during the morning peak every day and avoiding 100 crashes and near misses every year.
Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Danny Pearson, said, “We’re one step closer to making the Frankston Line level crossing free by 2029 and removing 110 level crossings by 2030, changing the way people live, work and travel.”
Image: Victorian Government
