Have Your Say On Macleod Level Crossing Removal Project

The Allan Labor Government is getting on with removing the dangerous and congested level crossing on Ruthven Street, Macleod – which will boost safety and ease congestion for thousands of motorists in the area.

Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams is today inviting the community to have their say and help shape the designs of the Ruthven Street level crossing removal project, which will be delivered in 2027.

Expert engineering assessments have found that a rail bridge is the best way to remove the level crossing, enabling faster construction and minimising disruption for locals and rail passengers.

The design also creates space for more landscaping and a new shared user path along Ellesmere Parade – filling a long-standing missing link in the local walking and cycling network and giving pedestrians and cyclists a safer, more direct connection between Ruthven Street and Davies Street.

The new rail bridge will improve travel reliability for the 12,600 drivers that use the crossing every day and eliminating almost 30 minutes of boom gate down time in the morning peak.

The level crossing removal project builds on other road and rail infrastructure improvements in the north east, including the North East Link Project, which will connect the M80 Ring Road with the Eastern Freeway.

The Hurstbridge Line Upgrade has delivered more train services and better public transport connections by duplicating 3.5 kilometres of track, building new stations at Greensborough and Montmorency, and creating a two-kilometre walking and cycling path between the two stations.

It follows the removal of dangerous and congested level crossings on the Hurstbridge Line at Grange Road, Alphington and Lower Plenty Road, Rosanna, along with the construction of a new Rosanna Station.

In total, the Labor Government is removing 110 level crossings across Melbourne by 2030, with 87 already gone for good.

Consultation to help shape the project’s concept designs is open until Tuesday, 23 December at engage.vic.gov.au/lxrp-ruthven-street.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams

“Removing the Ruthven Street level crossing will ease congestion and improve safety on Macleod’s locals roads.”

“Combined with the benefits of the North East Link Project, getting rid of these boom gates will make getting around Melbourne safer and easier for locals.”

Quote attributable to Member for Ivanhoe Anthony Carbines

“Getting rid of the dangerous and congested level crossing at Ruthven Street, Macleod will greatly reduce gridlock at this busy crossing - eliminating 30 minutes of boom gate down time in the morning peak alone."

Quote attributable to Member for Bundoora Colin Brooks

“This project will make it safer and easier for people across Melbourne’s north east to get where they need to go, with better connections and less congestion on our local roads.”