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Level Crossing Removal construction blitz in Melbourne’s southeast

mont Albert road level crossing
union station design concept
Union Station design concept. Image courtesy of Victoria’s Big Build.

Crews have been working around the clock to remove dangerous and congested level crossings in Surrey Hills and Mont Albert as part of a six-week construction blitz.

As part of the projects, a new Union Station will replace the existing Surrey Hills and Mont Albert stations with a single, modern station. Works will also include lowering the Lilydale line into a 1.3-kilometre rail trench, and the creation of new community open spaces above it.

The construction blitz started last week, including the arrive of four cranes, which will lift giant bridge beams into place at each road to allow for the relocation of essential services in the rail corridor. The level crossing removals at Union Road, Surrey Hills and Mont Albert Road have been fast-tracked, and are now due for completion in 2023.

The level crossings are considered two of Melbourne’s worst. The Union Road crossing was the site of a 2016 incident that resulted in two fatalities, and there have been at least eight near-misses between the two since 2005.

Paul Hamer, Member for Box Hill, said: “Removing the Union and Mont Albert Road level crossings is essential to boost safety for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, and make this dangerous road a thing of the past.”

Other works include piling along the rail corridor for the trench wall ahead of excavation starting next year, while a mini tunnel boring machine digs under the rail corridor between Lorne Parade Reserve to Montrose Street to relocate a major water main.

Jacinta Allan, Acting Premier and Minister for Transport Infrastructure, said 65 level crossings across Melbourne were now gone, with another 21 to go by 2025.

“We’re creating safer connections whether travelling by foot, car or train, and we thank the local communities for their patience as we got on with delivering these vital works,” she said.

Buses will replace trains on sections of the Lilydale line until the last service on Sunday 24 July.

For more information, visit: bigbuild.vic.gov.au

 


 

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