The removal of two more level crossings – Grange Road in Alphington and Lower Plenty Rd in Rosanna – will start next year as part of a package of works that includes a new Rosanna Station and duplicated Hurstbridge line.
Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan today announced that the two level crossing removals, second track and new Rosanna Station have been released to market and will be delivered as a single project worth more than half-a-billion dollars.
Grange and Lower Plenty Road level crossings are two of Melbourne’s worst, with boom gates down for more than a third of the morning peak, clogging roads in Melbourne’s north eastern suburbs.
Their fast-tracking means 25 dangerous and congested level crossings will be removed by the end of 2019, including at least 20 by the next election.
This unprecedented construction effort is creating thousands of new jobs and transforming Melbourne’s suburbs.
The Hurstbridge line is one of Melbourne’s most congested. Removing the level crossings and building a second track in Heidelberg will allow more services, reducing crowding and carrying more people every single day.
Duplication of the line will also boost the reliability of services, removing the bottleneck that forces trains heading one way to wait for trains heading the other, and compounding delays and frustration for passengers.
Packaging these critical works together will reduce disruption to local residents, businesses and passengers, and mean the benefits of this huge project can be delivered sooner.
Consultation is already underway at Grange Road and will start soon at Lower Plenty Road and on the Hurstbridge line duplication.
The Request for Proposal for these works will close in July. Construction is expected to commence in 2017 and be complete in 2019. Details are available at
Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan
“In Alphington, in Rosanna, and all over Melbourne – these relics of the past need to go. We’re getting rid of them in one of the biggest construction efforts in Australian history.”
“This project will benefit every passenger on the Hurstbridge line, and make local streets safer and less congested. We’re not wasting a moment – we’re getting the project to market and getting it done.”
“Delivering these works together will reduce disruption during construction and mean we finish the project sooner, so people have access to better train services and safer, less congested roads as soon as possible.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Ivanhoe Anthony Carbines
“People in Heidelberg, Rosanna and along the Hurstbridge line feel the effects of these bottlenecks every day. They need better trains services and less congested local roads and that’s what this project will deliver.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020