Three Frankston line level crossing removals brought forward

Work to remove three level crossings on the Frankston railway line has been brought forward to avoid the need for two extended and disruptive closures of the busy line in the next few years.

But residents of the bayside suburbs of Chelsea and Edithvale may have to find new ways of getting around once the works are done, with some local roads in the area set to be shut for good as part of the level crossing removal program.

Works at Bentleigh station in 2016. Eighteen level crossings are being removed on the Frankston line, at a cost of $3 billion.Credit: Justin McManus

The state government announced on Sunday that level crossings at Swanpool Avenue and Chelsea Road in Chelsea, and Lochiel Avenue in Edithvale, will be gone by the end of 2022.

It had previously made an election promise to remove them by 2025.

Those roads will be closed permanently where they cross the Frankston line, in a decision the state government says will tackle excessive and dangerous rat-running on local streets.

Their removal will occur in tandem with the previously announced removal of a number of other crossings on the line, including at Edithvale and Bondi roads.

The rail line will be lowered into a trench along this section of the line, unlike in neighbouring Carrum and at Skye Road in Frankston where it has been controversially elevated.

All up, the government is spending $3 billion to remove 18 level crossings on the Frankston line, including demolishing and rebuilding 12 railway stations.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the fast-tracking of those three crossing removals would see 16 of those crossings gone by 2022 and reduce the length of time the Frankston line must be shut for construction work.

“Not only are we removing those level crossings that we had committed to remove, but we’re also putting in place a set of local traffic solutions that deal with very dangerous and frustrating congestion, as well as for local residents dealing with rat-running that has just become part of normal life,” he said.

Thames Promenade in Chelsea will be extended over the rail line, creating a new road link between the Nepean Highway and the Mornington Peninsula Freeway.

Work is due to start in mid-2020 and finish by late 2022.

Meanwhile, the Frankston line will reopen on Monday after an eight-day shutdown to remove the old Carrum station.