Early designs have been released to remove the dangerous and congested level crossing at Keon Parade to keep traffic moving, deliver more trains more often and make the community safer.
Since 2012, there have been 24 near misses and one crash recorded at the Keon Parade level crossing.
By 2025, Keon Parade will be boom gate free and the new Keon Park Station open to the community.
Elevating the rail line over Keon Parade will make the commute safer and reduce congestion for more than 18,000 vehicles that travel through the level crossing each weekday, where the boom gates are down for more than 41 minutes during morning peak.
By building the brand-new Keon Park Station on the south side of Keon Parade locals will have improved connections to local neighbourhoods, buses, local shops, cafes and eateries.
The new station will have two entrances for convenient access, a central elevated island platform accessible via lifts and stairs, and two car parks north and south of Keon Parade.
A new signalised pedestrian crossing across High Street at Hughes Parade will give passengers from the west side of Reservoir direct passage to the station for the first time.
With new walking and cycling paths, a pick-up and drop-off zone and a Parkiteer bike storage facility, there will be more ways for locals to get to Keon Park Station and around the precinct.
The Andrews Labor Government is removing twelve level crossings in the north to improve safety, unclog traffic congestion and increase the capacity of our rail network, with five level crossings already removed as part of a $2 billion investment in the Mernda line including the second Bell Street level crossing in Preston.
The Reservoir level crossing was also removed in December 2019 with a rail bridge over High Street and the construction of a brand-new Reservoir Station, making it easier for people in Melbourne's north to get where they need to go.
Community consultation and feedback on accessibility and safety has helped shape the early concept designs.
The Labor Government has already removed 65 of a planned 85 dangerous and congested level crossings across Melbourne, improving safety and reducing congestion.
Locals can now provide feedback to help shape the station’s precinct final design and landscaping at by Sunday 25 September.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan
“We’re removing 85 dangerous and congested level crossings across Melbourne by 2025 to improve road safety, reduce congestion and create thousands of jobs through construction.
“The new Keon Park Station will help locals get home safer and faster.’
Quote attributable to Member for Thomastown Bronwyn Halfpenny
“More than 30 trains pass through this level crossing each morning peak. Removing this dangerous and congested level crossing and building a new and improved Keon Park Station, gates will mean no more waiting for the 18,000 vehicles that travel through the crossing every weekday.”
Reviewed 01 September 2022