The Andrews Labor Government’s removal of the level crossing at Toorak Road, Kooyong is a step closer with the contract for the works now signed.
The Toorak Road level crossing is one of the most dangerous and congested in Victoria and a major bottleneck for tens of thousands of people travelling to the Monash Freeway and CityLink via Toorak Road, Glenferrie Road and Tooronga Road.
With boom gates down for 35 per cent of the morning peak the level crossing is causes widespread congestion and needs to go.
An Alliance of Laing O’Rourke, Jacobs and Metro (MTM) will deliver the $89 million contract to construct the rail bridge over Toorak Road.
These companies have a strong track record having successfully removed level crossings at Grange Road in Alphington and Lower Plenty Road in Rosanna, duplicating the Hurstbridge line between Rosanna and Heidelberg and building the new Rosanna station.
Since the Toorak Road rail bridge design was announced in February, the project team has been talking to residents, road, rail and bike users about urban design, open space, landscaping and pedestrian and cycling connections.
The overwhelming feedback from the community has been to remove the level crossing as quickly as possible.
Significant feedback was received about helping pedestrians and cyclists to safely cross Toorak Road after the boom gates are gone. In response, a new pedestrian crossing will be installed and will be synchronised with the adjacent traffic lights on the Monash Freeway intersection to keep traffic flowing.
Based on detailed engineering assessments, the elevated design is the only feasible solution and will minimise rail and road disruption, as well as removing the level crossing as quickly as possible.
Early work and site set-up will start in the coming weeks and the level crossing will be gone by 2021.
For information about the project and disruptions during construction visit levelcrossings.vic.gov.au.
Quote attributable to Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan
“Awarding the contract is a significant step towards removing this major bottleneck which will slash travel times for tens thousands of people every day to get them where they need to be safer and sooner.”
Quote attributable to Member for Hawthorn John Kennedy
“We are not wasting a minute getting on with the job of removing this dangerous and congested level crossing.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020