- Published:
- Monday 22 June 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaA4TPWeTKQ
The Andrews Labor Government is getting on with the removal of Victoria’s most dangerous and congested level crossings, announcing that four more level crossing removals will begin this year.
An Alliance including Leighton Contractors, Aurecon and Hyder Consulting has been selected as the preferred contractor to design and construct the level crossing removals at Heatherdale Rd in Mitcham, Blackburn Rd in Blackburn, and Main and Furlong Roads in St Albans.
Premier Daniel Andrews joined Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan, at Heatherdale Station today to announce that the package of works will cost around $480 million, including $151 million from the Australian Government, and will create nearly 200 jobs.
At each location, the rail line will be lowered under the road. St Albans, Ginifer and Heatherdale stations will be re-built with platforms below street level and Blackburn Station will be upgraded.
Works will begin on Main and Furlong Road in the coming months and be completed in 2017. The removal of Heatherdale and Blackburn Road level crossings will start later this year and these crossings will be gone by 2018.
The Heatherdale Rd, Blackburn Rd and Furlong Rd projects have been funded by the Victorian Government, which has partnered with the Australian Government in funding the Main Road level crossing with savings from the Regional Rail Link project.
The Leighton Contractors, Aurecon, and Hyder Consulting Alliance includes VicRoads, Public Transport Victoria and Metro Trains Melbourne.
In another important milestone for the Level Crossing Removal Project, geotechnical investigations have begun on the Cranbourne-Pakenham package, which will remove every level crossing between Dandenong and Caulfield.
The removal of these nine level crossings is part of a multi-billion dollar package of works that also includes the rebuild of four stations, the purchase of 37 high-capacity trains and upgrades to power and signalling infrastructure.
These works will boost capacity on the Cranbourne-Pakenham line – Melbourne’s busiest – by 42 per cent, creating space for 11,000 extra passengers during peak hour.
Quotes attributable to Premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews
“These level crossings clog roads, risk lives and stop us running more trains. They’ve got to go – and we’re getting on with removing them.”
“These four level crossings will all be removed by 2018, and are part of our $2-2.4 billion commitment in the 2015-16 Victorian Budget to remove at least 20 of these congested death traps over four years.”
Quotes attributable to Federal Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Jamie Briggs
“The Australian Government is delivering world class infrastructure upgrades across Victoria, with $151 million committed to remove the level crossing at Main Road, St Albans.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan
“This package of works will get rid of four of our worst level crossings, rebuild three stations, upgrade another and create nearly 200 jobs.”
“The Andrews Labor Government is investing billions of dollars in the transport infrastructure we need to get Victorian’s home safer and sooner.”