The Andrews Labor Government has fast-tracked the removal of the Skye/Overton Road level crossing in Frankston.
Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan revealed today that work to remove the dangerous crossing will start this year and be finished by the end of 2018.
It’s a huge acceleration of construction timeline for the project, which wasn’t expected to start until next year.
The Skye/Overton Road level crossing is one of Victoria’s worst, with boom gates down for more than a quarter of the morning peak and three collisions at the crossing in the past ten years.
The Labor Government will remove this congested death-trap by building a rail bridge over Skye/Overton Road – the only feasible option identified for the site presented to the community during consultation last year.
The design includes improvements to the Skye/Overton Road and Dandenong Road West junction, to improve traffic flow between the Frankston Freeway, central Frankston and the surrounding industrial and retail precincts.
After extensive technical investigations last year, the LXRA in consultation with Melbourne Water determined that lowering the rail line into a trench was not feasible because it would create a barrier across the existing floodplain and interrupt overland water flows.
The design is the product of those expert planning, engineering, and hydrological studies, and was made in consultation with the community throughout 2016.
Over the coming months the project team will be seeking community feedback on landscaping, lighting, parking and paths.
A preferred contractor will be announced by the middle of the year, along with the detailed final design of the project. For more information, visit levelcrossings.vic.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan
“We’re fast tracking this crossing to reduce congestion and make Frankston safer, sooner.”
“We’re getting rid of more dangerous level crossings than any government in Victoria’s history – 10 are already gone, 10 are underway and the fast-tracking of this crossing means eight more removals will start this year.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Frankston Paul Edbrooke
“It’s a big win for the local community and shows what can be done when you have a government that keeps its promises and gets on with it.”
“Work will start this year and by the end of next, this dangerous local level crossing will be gone forever.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020