- Published:
- Tuesday 12 January 2016
The dangerous and congested level crossing on Burke Road in Glen Iris is gone, the first of 50 that will be removed by the Andrews Labor Government.
Premier Daniel Andrews joined Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan in Glen Iris today to see Burke Road re-open to traffic without boom gates for the first time.
The level crossing on Burke Road was one of Melbourne’s worst. The boom gates were down for up to 40 minutes between 7:00am-9:00am – a third of the morning peak – causing queues onto the Monash Freeway.
More than 25,000 vehicles, 150 trains, and 180 trams travel through this busy intersection every day, making it one of the most complicated, congested and dangerous level crossings in Victoria.
The RACV named it one of Melbourne’s top 10 congestion hot spots every year since 2006.
Removing the boom gates will make it quicker, easier and safer for motorists, commuters, and locals to get to work, school and back home again at the end of the day.
Works on the new Gardiner Station and tracks under Burke Road will continue this week, with trains to return on Monday with the opening of the new station.
Finishing works on the station precinct and construction of the car park will continue throughout the first half of 2016.
More than 500 people worked on the Burke Road level crossing removal, which is part of a $524 million package of works that also includes the removal of level crossings at North, McKinnon and Centre Roads on the Frankston Line.
To find out more about the Labor Government’s plan to reduce congestion, improve safety, run more trains and create local jobs, visit levelcrossings.vic.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
“Motorists, passengers and locals have had to live with these boom gates for too long. They caused congestion, they put lives at risk, and now we’ve removed them.”
“This is the first of 50 level crossings we will remove, and we’re not wasting a day getting rid of each and every one of them.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Alan
“Removing this level crossing is not only good news for thousands of motorists who use Burke Road every day, it’s also great news for the local community, which is now safer and will soon have access to a brand new train station.
“The Andrews Labor Government is removing level crossings and investing billions in the major transport projects our network needs, to get Victorians home safer and sooner, every day.”