After a month-long construction blitz the level crossings in St Albans in north west Melbourne have been removed and two new stations have been built.
The Furlong and Main road level crossings in St Albans are two of Victoria’s most dangerous crossings, with two deaths, three accidents and nearly 80 recorded near misses occurring at the crossings since 2006.
Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan, said, “The deadly, dangerous and congested crossings on Main road and Furlong road in St Albans are gone forever.”
During October 2016, hundreds of staff worked to excavate 18 olympic swimming pools worth of soil and rock to lower the rail line and allow trains to run safely under Main and Furlong Roads.
St Albans and Ginifer Stations were also demolished and rebuilt, and are now open to passengers.
While both crossings are now gone, Main road will close on Friday 4 November 2016 to remove the old tracks and re-surface the road and will reopen 28 November 2016.
“We promised to remove these crossings and we haven’t wasted a moment. The boom gates are gone and all major works will be complete by the end of November – we’re putting people first and getting it done,” Ms Allan said.
