A major 44-day construction blitz will fast-track the Hurstbridge Line Upgrade, delivering new track, a new Rosanna station and two level crossing removals six months earlier than planned.
Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan joined Member for Ivanhoe Anthony Carbines in Heidelberg today to announce that combining two rail closures previously scheduled for January and May 2018 into one 44-day construction blitz will mean less disruption and earlier benefits for communities along the Hurstbridge line.
The major construction blitz will begin in mid-March 2018 and run until the end of April, part of which coincides with Term One of the school holidays when roads and public transport are quieter.
At the end of the construction blitz, the brand new Rosanna Station will be open to commuters, and trains and cars will be safely separated for the very first time at Lower Plenty Road in Rosanna and Grange Road in Alphington, with the dangerous level crossings gone for good.
During the construction blitz, buses will replace trains on sections of the Hurstbridge line and there will be some road closures and detours, with dates to be confirmed soon.
As part of the works, a new tunnel is being excavated under Darebin Street in Heidelberg that will be home to part of the new section of duplicated track, also due to open at the end of April.
A specialised excavator will operate around the clock for more than four months to excavate the equivalent of more than 3,200m3 from underneath Darebin Street. Once complete, the new section of track will allow for more trains, more often along the Hurstbridge line.
The two level crossings being removed are among Melbourne’s worst with boom gates down for more than 40 minutes during the two-hour morning peak, causing frustration and delays for around 43,000 drivers every day.
The project will support a massive 1,000 jobs during peak construction.
In the lead-up to the major construction blitz there will also be shorter Hurstbridge line closures over the weekend of 9-10 December, and from 18-23 January.
For more information and to sign up for updates, visit levelcrossings.vic.gov.au
Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan
“We’re fast tracking the Hurstbridge Line Upgrade to ensure train commuters and drivers reap the benefits sooner.”
“Under this Labor Government – we’re building more trains, removing dangerous level crossings and delivering the biggest pipeline of projects ever seen to get people where they need to go, sooner.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Ivanhoe, Anthony Carbines
“I can’t wait for our community to enjoy more trains, more often, a brand new Rosanna station and no more dangerous level crossing six months earlier than planned.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020