- Published:
- Tuesday 5 July 2016
Major construction on the Andrews Labor Government’s $1.6 billion project to remove every level crossing between Dandenong and the City is about to begin.
Premier Daniel Andrews today joined Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan to announce that, from the start of August, preparations will begin to install two ‘gantry cranes’ weighing 230 tonnes near Murrumbeena Station ready for an advanced engineering feat never seen before in Victoria.
The huge gantry cranes – 40 metres wide and 150 metres long – will install the 2,500 locally-manufactured segments of the new modern elevated line by moving back and forth in the air while trains keep running underneath.
The advanced technique significantly reduces the impact on passengers and nearby homes during construction.
This new line will remove nine of Victoria’s worst level crossings, reducing road congestion, improving safety and creating space to run more trains in and out of the city.
New power and signalling will be installed and 30 platforms along the Cranbourne-Pakenham line will be extended so they are ready for the 65 new high-capacity trains that will begin using the line when the project is finished in 2018.
There will be impacts on commuter car parking while the five new elevated train stations are built. The car park at Murrumbeena Station will be fully closed and the car park at Noble Park will be partially closed from the start of August until the project is finished in 2018.
Carnegie Station car park will also be fully closed from 7 August, Clayton Station car park will partially close in September and Hughesdale Station will close later in the year also until 2018.
All parking temporarily lost at these stations will be off-set in Holmesglen, East Malvern, Huntingdale and Sandown Park. Once completed, the project will allow a significant increase in the number of commuter car parks along the line.
For more information about the closures and the benefits of this major project, visit levelcrossings.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window)
Quotes attributable to Premier, Daniel Andrews
“These are Melbourne’s worst level crossings – they’re dangerous, they’re congested, and they stop us running more trains on our busiest train line.”
“We’re getting rid of every level crossing by building modern elevated rail – it means less disruption, five new stations, and 11 MCGs of new community space – and we’re getting it done.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan
“This massive construction effort will create more than 2,000 jobs building a better line to carry more trains without clogging up our roads.”
“There will be impact on car parking while we build the new stations but every space will be off-set nearby, and ultimately the project will create more parking for passengers, as well as new open space for the community.”