- Published:
- Monday 9 November 2020
The Victorian Government is delivering the Gap Road level crossing years ahead of schedule, today announcing a road-under design to keep heritage buildings and ease traffic around the Sunbury community.
Gap Road/Station Street will be lowered under the rail line to preserve the character of the heritage-listed Sunbury Station, improve safety and ease congestion when more trains run on the Sunbury Line in the future.
With planning work underway, the project team is seeking feedback from the community on plans for the level crossing removal – including their ideas on the design, landscaping, and what they want to see in their local area.
Feedback is now open and will close on 29 November ahead of construction on the project kicking off next year, the level crossing removed by late 2022 and the remaining works completed in 2023 – two years ahead of the previously promised 2025 completion date.
About 19,000 vehicles pass through the Gap Road level crossing each day, creating delays and traffic congestion on one of Sunbury’s busiest roads. That number is expected to reach 27,000 in 2026 as Sunbury’s population booms.
The Gap Road level crossing will be the fourth to be removed on the Sunbury Line and one of 75 dangerous and congested level crossings to be gone by 2025 across Melbourne.
The project is being delivered together with the $2.1 billion Sunbury Line Upgrade, in a partnership between Rail Projects Victoria and the Level Crossing Removal Project, so the level crossing can be completed sooner.
The two projects will also include infrastructure for the local community like a new shared path – safely connecting pedestrians and cyclists to both sides of Sunbury.
Works at Sunbury Station as part of the Sunbury Line Upgrade include platform extensions, train stabling modifications and rail track and power upgrades to enable bigger, more modern trains to run on the line – creating space for 113,000 more passengers in peak hours every week when the Metro Tunnel is open.
Sunbury rail users will get a further boost from the Car Parks for Commuters program, with the Victorian Government and Hume City Council adding hundreds more car spaces to the station precinct, improving access and boosting bike parking capacity.
For more information on these significant investments in Sunbury and to have your say on the Gap Road level crossing removal, visit bigbuild.engage.vic.gov.au or call 1800 105 105.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan
“This notorious level crossing has been leaving Sunbury residents stranded in traffic for far too long – these works will deliver better journeys across the local community.”
“Our Big Build program is vital to Victoria’s rebuild – supporting thousands of jobs and building the projects we need.”
Quote attributable to Member for Sunbury Josh Bull
“We’re delivering both of these important transport projects together to reduce disruption to our community and community and get better outcomes for rail passengers, road users and residents faster.”