Premier

Construction Blitz To Remove 3 More Level Crossings

24 July 2018

Major construction blitzes will be underway in August to remove three more dangerous and congested level crossings in Essendon, Seaford and Dandenong South.

The Buckley Street level crossing which is set to be removed by early October, is among Melbourne's worst with the boom gates down for around 78 minutes during the morning peak, leading to major delays on Buckley Street causing frustration for the 11,000 people who drive through it each day.

To remove this level crossing, buses will replace trains along some sections of the Craigieburn line between 24 August and 9 September. Coaches will replace Seymour and Shepparton trains for the entire journey to and from Southern Cross Station during this time.

Buckley Street will be closed near the level crossing for 52 days from the evening of 9 August and some local roads will be closed intermittently with detours and traffic advisories helping motorists get where they need to go.

The Seaford Road level crossing leaves motorists waiting for around 32 minutes during the morning peak and its removal will reduce travel times and make the area safer for school children and pedestrians to move around RF Miles reserve.

To enable it to be gone by the end of September, Seaford Road and Railway Parade will be closed near the level crossing for six weeks from 17 August, and buses will replace trains between Carrum and Stony Point on the weekend of 18-19 August and from 8.30pm on 8 September to 6am on 16 September.

At the end of the construction blitz, the new road underpass will open, allowing traffic to flow freely without being delayed.

The dangerous Abbotts Road level crossing will history by early September following a 10-day construction blitz.

Once Abbotts Road is gone, 11 level crossings have been removed on the Cranbourne line – removing multiple level crossings along one line reduces delays and cancellations for passengers.

From the evening of 28 August to the morning of 8 September, buses will replace trains between Dandenong and Cranbourne as crews put the finishing touches on the 410-metre-long bridge over Abbotts Road.

The Andrews Labor Government has already removed 26 level crossings, with a further three level crossing removals under construction. Work is well ahead of schedule to remove 50 level crossings by 2022.

For disruption information and to find your Plan B travel option, visit bigbuild.vic.gov.au

Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan

"We've smashed our promise to remove 20 in our first term – 26 are gone, with another three to go in the coming months, we're getting it done."

"We thank passengers for their patience as we get on with the works which will get them home safer and sooner."

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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