As part of its Big Build, the Victorian Government has announced the removal of eight more dangerous and congested level crossings on the Upfield Line to make local roads safer while improving traffic flow and enabling more trains to run more often.
About 66 level crossings are now gone for good, exceeding the State Government’s promise to remove 50 dangerous and congested level crossings by 2022. This also means that up to 85 level crossings are on track to be removed by 2025.
“We’re not wasting a minute removing dangerous and congested level crossings across Melbourne, ahead of schedule, with 66 already gone for good – and we’re not slowing down any time soon.
“We’re creating local jobs, with 20,000 people employed across our Big Build, increasing safety and reducing congestion – it’s good for the economy, and good for Victorians,” Premier Daniel Andrews said.
Over the last six years, 66 level crossings have been removed – a year ahead of schedule – along with the delivery of 37 new and upgraded stations, 50 kilometres of bike paths and unlocking up to 20 MCGs worth of open space across Melbourne for the community to enjoy.
The removal of level crossings across the State has supported up to 8,000 jobs and generated more than 72 million hours of work.
The newly announced level crossing removals will include the following locations:
Removing these level crossings along the Upfield Line will allow Victorians to spend less time on the road, stuck in traffic, and more time with their families and friends.
Once works are completed, there will be no level crossings along the Upfield Line between Parkville and Coburg.
The removal of the level crossings will help improve travel times for the 71,000 vehicles that pass through these crossings during the morning peak each weekday where the boom gates are down for up to 30 minutes.
“Every Victorian knows the dinging sound of boom gates coming down and the frustration that comes with it, that’s why we’re getting rid of them – saving lives, easing congestion and getting you home sooner.
“We’re getting rid of eight more of these death traps on the Upfield Line – making local roads safer, improving traffic flow, and clearing the way for more trains, more often,” Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan said.
In addition to the level crossing removals, an elevated rail bridge is going to be built along the Upfield Line to complement the new rail bridge from Bell Street to Moreland Road. This will make the Upfield Bike Path one of the most important bike paths in Melbourne, becoming a major transport link from the north into the city.
Communities in Coburg and Brunswick are already seeing the benefits of elevating the rail corridor as it provides a boon for the Upfield Bike Path – with a new dedicated pedestrian and cycle path from Bell Street in the north to Park Street in the south that provides a safer and quicker connection for locals.
Community consultation for the recently announced level crossing removals as well as further project design will get underway next year. The eight level crossings will be gone for good by 2027.
Source: Premier of Victoria – Media Centre; Victoria’s Big Build – Level Crossing Removal Project (1, 2); Roads & Infrastructure Australia; Infrastructure Magazine