- Published:
- Tuesday 1 November 2016
The dangerous and congested level crossings in St Albans are now gone for good, as work on the removal of two more crossings ramps up across town.
Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan visited St Albans today to celebrate the removal of the crossings, opening of two new stations, and return of train services following a month-long construction blitz.
The Furlong and Main Road level crossings in St Albans are two of Victoria’s most dangerous. There have been two tragic deaths, three accidents and nearly 80 recorded near misses at the crossings in the past decade. They are also among the most congested, with boom gates down for between a quarter and half of the morning peak.
Over the last four weeks, hundreds of staff have worked around the clock to excavate 18 Olympic swimming pools worth of soil and rock to lower the rail line and allow trains to run safely under Main and Furlong Roads. St Albans and Ginifer Stations were also demolished and rebuilt in October, and are now open to passengers.
While both crossings are now gone, Main Road will close on Friday to remove the old tracks and re-surface the road. When it re-opens on 28 November, all major St Albans level crossing works will be complete.
Across town in Bayswater, work is just about to begin on another construction blitz to remove the dangerous and congested Mountain Highway and Scoresby Road level crossings, and build a brand new station.
To enable this work to happen safely and efficiently, buses will replace trains between Ringwood and Belgrave stations from Friday, 4 November to Sunday, 11 December. Scoresby Road will close at the level crossing from today until 19 November, and Mountain Highway will close from 20 November to 23 December.
The Labor Government is not wasting a moment removing 50 of Victoria’s most dangerous and congested level crossings. Six are now gone, with work underway at a further 13, and four more to get underway next year.
For more information about the St Albans project, visit levelcrossings.vic.gov.au. For up-to-date travel information and to plan your journey, visit roads.vic.gov.au and ptv.vic.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan
“The deadly, dangerous and congested crossings on Main Road and Furlong Road in St Albans are gone forever.”
“We promised to remove these crossings and we haven’t wasted a moment. The boom gates are gone and all major works will be complete by the end of November – we’re putting people first and getting it done.”
Quote attributable to Member for St Albans Natalie Suleyman
“The St Albans community has fought for the removal of these dangerous crossings for decades. We have listened, acted and got rid of them once and for all.”
Quote attributable to Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Member for Eastern Metropolitan Shaun Leane
“The deadly level crossings in St Albans are gone and across town work is about to ramp up on the removal of the dangerous and congested level crossings in Bayswater.”