The Victorian Government is fast-tracking the removal of six more dangerous and congested level crossings across Melbourne with the award of two major construction contracts with a combined value of almost $800 million.
The first contract is valued at $234 million and has been awarded to an alliance between Fulton Hogan, Metro Trains Melbourne and the Level Crossing Removal Project. This contract award is for the removal of level crossings at Fitzgerald Road in Ardeer and at Robinsons Road in Deer Park in Melbourne’s west.
This project will involve building a road underpass at Robinsons Road and a road overpass at Fitzgerald Road to replace the level crossings, and will create up to 400 jobs during peak construction period.
The removal of the two level crossings complement other road upgrades in the area which are being delivered as part of the State Government’s Western Road Upgrade, including upgrades to the intersection and construction of an extra lane on Palmers Road.
Removing the Fitzgerald Road and Robinsons Road level crossings will also pave the way for the removal of the Mount Derrimut Road level crossing.
Early works are set to commence this month, with major construction to begin later this year. The two level crossings will be permanently gone by 2023.
“As Melbourne’s outer suburbs continue to grow, we’re [improving] safety and [making] journeys more reliable for public transport passengers and motorists in our booming west,” Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan said.
“With boom gates down for up to 45 per cent of the morning peak, removing these dangerous and congested level crossings will get people home sooner and safer and support the economy,” Member for Kororoit Marlene Kairouz said.
The second major construction contract – valued at $564 million – has been awarded to an alliance between John Holland, Kellogg Brown and Root (KBR), Metro Trains Melbourne and the Level Crossing Removal Project.
Under this contract, the alliance will remove the dangerous and congested level crossings at Oakover Road, Bell Street, Cramer Street and Murray Road in Preston.
For this project, the Mernda rail line is going to be raised over the four Preston roads to remove the level crossings. This will deliver new open space under the two-kilometre stretch of rail bridge as well as create better east-west connections for the local community.
“The elevated rail line will help to open up connections in our community, making it easier to get from the train station to the Preston market, High Street, or to school or work – wherever you need to go in Preston,” Member for Preston Robin Scott said.
In addition, new Premium modern stations are going to be built at Bell Street and Preston that will help rejuvenate the area, providing safer and more direct connections between local shops, public transport as well as parking.
Early works to remove the Preston level crossings began late last year with the establishment of site sheds and fencing along with crews installing rail power and communication systems underground at the nearby rail line.
The project team will be working closely with expert urban, landscape designers and the Preston Open Space Advisory Panel to collect feedback and insights from the community regarding the possible uses of the open space under the new rail line.
The Preston level crossings removal is expected to support more than 1,000 local full-time jobs during peak construction period.
All four level crossings are expected to be permanently gone by the end of 2022, with the new open space under the elevated rail line to open for public use in 2023.
“The boom gates on bell Street have always been a nightmare. We’ve already gotten rid of one level crossing, and this project will see the second set in Preston banished forever – it's progress we can all be proud of,” Minister Allan said.
“It’s great to see so much progress being made on these level crossing removals in Preston. It’s amazing to think in two years there’ll be no more boom gates on Bell Street,” Member for Northcote Kat Theophanous said.
Source: Premier of Victoria – Media Centre (1, 2); Level Crossing Removal Project (1, 2); Inside Construction