Four more dangerous and congested level crossings will be gone early next year, well ahead of schedule.
Acting Premier Jacinta Allan today announced a series of major road and rail closures that will 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.
From 15 October, Bayswater Station will close and be demolished, making way for a bigger, better station that will open in mid-December. Belgrave line trains will run express through Bayswater during this time, with buses running from stations either side.
In early November, 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 huge construction effort will also have an impact on the road network. Scoresby Road will be closed at the level crossing from 2-19 November, and Mountain Highway will be closed from 20 November to 23 December.
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 the Andrews Labor Government promised to remove 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 Labor Government is not wasting a moment removing 50 of Victoria’s most dangerous and congested level crossings, which is fully funded through the successful lease of the Port of Melbourne announced last week. Four are already gone, work is underway at a further 15, and four more will be underway next year.
For more information on the road and rail closures, and to plan your journey, visit or . 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 .
Quotes attributable to Acting Premier and Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan
“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.”
Quotes attributable to Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Member for Eastern Metropolitan Shaun Leane
“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.”
Disruption summary
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.
Reviewed 19 August 2020