- Published:
- Sunday 11 April 2021
The Andrews Labor Government is easing congestion and making travel around Melbourne’s western suburbs safer even faster, with the removal of the notoriously busy Mt Derrimut Road level crossing a year ahead of schedule.
Works on a two-kilometre rail bridge over Mt Derrimut Road and a brand new Deer Park train station will kick off by the end of the year, eliminating the accidents, near misses and risky driver behaviour that have long plagued the intersection.
Raising the train line will also boost the community’s connections to schools, parks and healthcare for the pedestrians, cyclists, and up to 23,000 motorists passing through the crossing each day.
The new Deer Park station will deliver better links to the newly-built residential areas of Derrimut, with a new pedestrian connection that links the suburbs to the north and south of the station, as well as more car parking and bike facilities to encourage passengers to park and catch the train into Melbourne.
The station will see 150 new and upgraded car spaces delivered as part of the Labor Government’s Car Parks for Commuters program, catering for the western suburbs’ growing population.
The existing boom gates at Mt Derrimut Road can be down for long periods of time, often causing massive traffic delays while multiple trains pass on the Geelong and Ballarat lines. In December last year, traffic banked up for hours after an incident where a truck collided with a boom gate, breaking it in two.
Works on the nearby Fitzgerald and Robinsons Road level crossings are already well underway, with the combined removal of the three Ardeer and Deer Park crossings paving the way for future improvements to the area’s rail infrastructure under the Labor Government’s Western Rail Plan.
Three massive piling rigs will soon start work at Robinsons Road to drill 118 circular foundations that will support retaining walls for the new road underpass and rail bridge.
From Monday 19 April locals will be able to provide feedback on concept designs for the project along with options for open space and landscaping around Deer Park Station. To find out more, visit levelcrossings.vic.gov.au
Quotes attributable to Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan
“By 2024, Deer Park and Ardeer will be completely level crossing-free – reducing congestion and delivering better community connections for our growing western suburbs.”
“More trains than ever are now running on this part of the rail network – so it’s essential we get these crossings gone for good as soon as possible.”
Quote attributable to Member for Kororoit Marlene Kairouz
“Right now, the Mt Derrimut Road level crossing dominates the way people commute, shop and even send their kids to school. It is absolutely time for it to go.”