Contract awarded for $496M Melbourne level crossing removals

Image from the Level Crossing Removal Project. An artist’s impression.

An alliance has been awarded the $496 million contract to remove level crossings at Manchester Road, Mooroolbark and Maroondah Highway, Lilydale.

The alliance comprises Laing O’Rourke, Jacobs and Metro Trains Melbourne. This alliance also won the contract for the Toorak Road level crossing in 2019.

There is an expected 53,000 vehicles using the crossings each day with boom gates down for up to a quarter of the morning peak.

Early 2020 will see design work begin to incorporate community feedback into recently released concept designs.

Hundreds of local residents have provided input into the project and will continue to have input as the designs are further refined.

The level crossings will be removed by building rail bridges and two new stations. This is expected to shorten travel times and improve connectivity over all modes of transport.

A multi-deck carpark will also be built at Mooroolbark station with up to 450 new spaces.

Construction is expected to begin mid-2020 and be completed in 2022.