Ringwood residents have had their first look at the design for the 380-metre rail trench that will make the dangerous and congested Bedford Road level crossing a thing of the past.
The Level Crossing Removal Project has revealed the early concept designs for the rail trench, which will take trains underneath Bedford Road, making the commute safer and reducing congestion.
Boom gates at the site are down for 23 minutes during the morning peak and causing traffic chaos for the 13,500 vehicles that use the crossing every day, including families travelling to local schools.
Local residents have also been given the chance to provide feedback on designs for screens that will be installed where the road crosses the trench and landscaping at a revitalised Bedford Park entry.
Although the team has worked hard to minimise the impact of works on nearby land and every effort has been made to ensure residents and businesses won’t be impacted, four properties will be acquired.
These properties must be acquired to allow us to safely build the rail trench, and it is the only solution that minimises the impact on essential infrastructure nearby, including the rail junction at Ringwood Station and the Ringwood train stabling yards.
Property acquisitions are never easy. The Level Crossing Removal Project has attempted to contact affected owners and residents, who will be supported by the project throughout the process.
Other design solutions, such as elevating the rail line, would have impacted more properties and required more road and rail disruptions during construction.
The Bedford Road level crossing removal was one of four additional Lilydale and Belgrave line projects announced by the Victorian Government in 2021, which also included Coolstore Road, Croydon, Dublin Road, Ringwood East, and Cave Hill Road, Lilydale.
In total, 12 level crossings will be removed on the Lilydale and Belgrave lines, with six already gone for good and two underway at Union Road, Surrey Hills and Mont Albert Road, Mont Albert.
This will make the Lilydale line level crossing free by 2025 and the Belgrave Line level crossing free between Ferntree Gully and the city.
The project team will continue site investigations and community engagement at Bedford Road throughout 2022, with major construction to start in 2023 and the boom gates gone for good by 2025.
In total, 85 level crossings will be removed by 2025 – with 58 already gone for good – improving safety and reducing congestion in Melbourne’s suburbs.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan
“We are getting on with the job of removing 85 of Melbourne’s most dangerous and congested level crossings to improve safety and reduce travel time in our suburbs.”
“The Bedford Road level crossing causes traffic chaos during peak hour and removing it will not only make our roads safer but also pave the way for more trains, more often on the Belgrave Line.”
Quote attributable to Member for Bayswater Jackson Taylor
“Removing the Bedford level crossing will mean there’ll be no level crossings from Ferntree Gully to the City on the Belgrave line. And it’s on top of the two we got rid of in Bayswater – another big win for our community.”
Reviewed 20 February 2022