Removal of more level crossings in VIC to support up to 4000 new jobs

An additional 10 dangerous and congested level crossings are going to be removed by 2025 as part of Victoria’s Level Crossing Removal Project. This takes the total number of level crossings to be permanently removed to 85. 

The removal of these level crossings – located on the Pakenham, Lilydale, Belgrave, Frankston, Sunbury and Mernda lines – will help improve safety and bust congestion. 

“We promised to remove 50 level crossings by 2022 and we’re more than a year ahead of schedule. It’s an incredible achievement that has created jobs, reduced congestion on our roads and opened up space for more trains, more often. 

“Instead of just finishing early, we’re going to do more – getting rid of more crossings, creating more jobs and making more communities safer,” Premier Daniel Andrews said. 

These projects will generate up to 4,000 new jobs – including 2,100 direct and 1,900 indirect jobs such as manufacturing workers, mechanics, software programmers to cleaners. 

Small businesses from industries such as construction, manufacturing, catering and hospitality, accommodation, software, administration, mechanics and cleaners will also be provided opportunities to work on these projects. 

The 10 level crossings to be removed will include: 

• Station Street at Beaconsfield, along the Pakenham Line – initial design solution: road over rail 
• Webb Street at Narre Warren, along the Pakenham Line – initial design solution: rail over hybrid 
• Brunt Road at Beaconsfield, along the Pakenham Line – initial design solution: road over rail 
• Coolstore Road at Croydon, along the Lilydale Line – initial design solution: rail over road 
• Dublin Road at Ringwood East, along the Lilydale Line – initial design solution: rail under road 
• Bedford Road at Ringwood, along the Belgrave Line – initial design solution: rail under road 
• Parkers Road at Parkdale, along the Frankston Line – initial design solution: rail over road 
• Warrigal Road at Mentone, along the Frankston Line – initial design solution: rail over road 
• Calder Park Drive at Calder Park, along the Sunbury Line – initial design solution: road over rail 
• Keon Parade at Keon Park, along the Mernda Line – initial design solution: rail over road 

With the removal of these level crossing, four others are going to be permanently closed at Cave Hill in Lilydale, Holden Road in Calder Park, Station Street in Officer and Progress Street in South Dandenong. 

“Every Victorian knows the dinging sound of boom gates coming down and the frustration that comes with it, that’s why we’re getting rid of them – saving lives, easing congestion and getting you home sooner. 

“We’ve already removed 46 level crossings well ahead of schedule and these extra sites will give a boost to our economy after the pandemic and support small business and hundreds of jobs,” Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan said. 

By removing these level crossings, the Cranbourne/Pakenham and Lilydale lines will be level crossing-free and enabling more trains to run more often. 

In addition, five new train stations are going to be built at Croydon, Keon Park, Narre Warren, Parkdale and Ringwood East. 

The package of works is estimated to have a total value of $2.5 billion and it is expected to provide a much-needed boost to the State's economy and local communities through its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Early works on the additional level crossing removals will commence by 2022. 

Source: Premier of Victoria – Media Centre; Level Crossing Removal Project; Australia New Zealand Infrastructure Pipeline