Mont Albert Surrey Hills level crossing works to cause travel pain for traders, commuters

Business owners are pleading for compensation with roads to be shut down and train services impacted for weeks of level crossing works in Melbourne’s east.

Part of Union St in Surrey Hills has closed in both directions until mid-August for level crossing removal works. File picture.

Motorists, commuters and traders will have to endure weeks of road closures and train disruptions as works to remove level crossings in Melbourne’s east ramp up.

A section of Union Rd in Surrey Hills, surrounding the suburb’s soon-to-be-removed crossing and railway station, has closed to traffic in both directions for more than six weeks, and won’t reopen until Monday, August 15.

Commuters on the Belgrave and Lilydale railway lines will also cop bus replacements for part of their train journeys for three weeks.

Buses will replace trains between Camberwell and Ringwood stations from 8.30pm on July 8 until last service on July 10, and will then continue between Camberwell and Box Hill stations until the last service on July 24.

The works are being carried out so bridge beams can be installed at Union and Mont Albert roads, to allow services to be reallocated ahead of trenching works next year.

The LXRP has also scheduled the works to ensure less disruptions in the lead-up to the busy Christmas trading period at the end of the year.

Engine Shed Cafe owner Paul Kerman, who is in the impacted closure zone on Union Rd, said while he understood the works had to be done, the project was turning off his regular customers.

”It’s damaging our core of the business, because the regulars can’t get access here or they don’t want to come here because of the disruptions,” he said.

“Two businesses have already left in the past two months because of the impact of the works … there’s less foot traffic in the area now as well as the parking restrictions.

“It needs doing, but someone has to listen to the reality of what’s happening to the business and what we’re going to be left with.”

But nearby cafe owner Ozan Tuncer, of CL Kitchen, said the project’s ‘community team’ had supported them by handing out coffee vouchers to boost trade.

“It may have a little impact (the works), but we are right on the corner so it’s all right … and we’ve been getting to know the tradies,” he said.

Part of Mont Albert Rd around its level crossing will also be closed in both directions from July 9 to July 25.

Winrell Motors owner Adam Bouch, whose car mechanics is right near the crossing, said he feared the road closure would make it a nightmare for customers to access his business.

“We’re not just foot traffic, we’re car traffic, and it’s impossible sometimes to get cars in and out for repairs with road closures in place,” he said.

The Level Crossing Removal Project hasn’t offered any compensation to businesses for the disruptions, but is releasing a trader directory and a loyalty program in the coming weeks to try and encourage people to continue to shop locally.

A large number of local roads will also be impacted by short and long term closures during the works period, including Croydon Rd, Kingston Rd, Sunbury Crescent, Robinsons Rd, Windsor Crescent, Lorne Parade, Beresford St, Churchill St and Montrose St.

Along with removing the two level crossings, a new station, Union, will be built in between Union Rd and Mont Albert Rd as part of the works, which are expected to be completed sometime in 2023.

An LXRP spokeswoman said it was working with traders to “minimise construction impacts and encourage residents to continue shopping in their local community while we carry out these important works”.
“We thank locals for their patience as these vital works are undertaken to increase and improve travel in the area,” the spokeswoman said.