Talbot Crescent could be turned into cul-de-sac after level crossing works

When sky rail works started at the Toorak Rd level crossing, residents weren’t happy when the end of one street was closed off. But they have since had a change of heart and now want the change made permanent.

Talbot Crescent has been turned into a cul-de-sac during level crossing works. Picture: Norm Oorloff

The closure of one end of a Kooyong road for level crossing works caused consternation among residents when it was first enforced.

But having since enjoyed the lack of through-traffic on the road so much, they have recruited Stonnington Council’s help to permanently shut it off after a significant majority of Talbot Crescent’s 53 residents supported becoming a permanent cul-de-sac.

A render of the Toorak Rd level crossing.

Talbot Crescent, which runs between Toorak and Glenferrie roads, was closed off at the Toorak Rd end from July as part of works to elevate the level crossing.

The crossing is a bottleneck for people travelling to the Monash Freeway and City Link via Toorak, Glenferrie and Tooronga roads, as 37,000 vehicle traverse it.

Mayor Steve Stefanopoulos said people living in Elizabeth St and Talbot Crescent had found “traffic volumes decreased enormously”.

How the open space might look.

“It’s not a cut-through to the freeway anymore,” he said.

“There had been plans to reinstate access, but we and the residents are happy to keep it shut.

“It will also create a bit more open space, too.

“It would be a good outcome for residents, who have been copping a bit of flak with all the work.”

The Level Crossing Removal Project has the authority to close the road without the council having to go through the usual processes.

Crews are boring piles 2.1m wide and up to 20m into the ground, with 18 piles needed for the bridge structure and 16 for the two bridge ends. Picture: Norm Oorloff

Toorak Rd program director Steve Brown said while the council had not made a formal request to permanently change Talbot Crescent, if it did it “would be considered as part of the project”.

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Toorak Rd will be closed between the Monash Freeway intersection and Elizabeth St from November 29 at 9pm to December 2 at 5am. Detours will be in place on Glenferrie, Riversdale, Tooronga, and Burke roads.

Buses will also replace trains on the Glen Waverley line between Burnley and Darling station during this time. Passengers should allow an extra 45 minutes for their journey.

The level crossing will be gone by 2021.