Level Crossing Removal Authority reveals preferred design for Buckley St railway in Essendon

AN INNER Melbourne council is at loggerheads with the State Government after the preferred design for the removal of a chaotic level crossing was revealed.

A preferred design for the Buckley St level crossing has been revealed. Picture: Adam Elwood

MOONEE Valley Council is at loggerheads with the State Government after the preferred design for removal of a chaotic Essendon level crossing was revealed.

The Level Crossing Removal Authority wants Buckley St to run underneath the current train line.

But Moonee Valley Council remains staunch in its preference for tracks to run beneath road.

Under the LXRA’s preferred option, no properties would be acquired, the heritage train station would be unaffected, and there would be a pedestrian precinct.

The design also includes at-level access for motorists to smaller roads such as Russell St.

Northwest project director Michael Caink said the design would allow traffic to flow, alleviating the rat race around backstreets.

“We know from preliminary surveys that most bikes and pedestrians try to avoid that area,” Mr Caink said.

“There’ll be changed local traffic movements, sure, but they’ll be safer and more predictable traffic movements.

“None of the other solutions take the traffic out of the equation. It’ll make it a better precinct.”

The preferred design option for the Buckley St level crossing removal. Picture: Level Crossing Removal Authority.

More than 220 people attended a community consultation session on the designs last Saturday, with another on tomorrow.

But Moonee Valley mayor Andrea Surace said they were “disappointed” the design options did not include council’s rail-under-road preference, which would see no properties acquired but the train station relocated.

She also slammed the LXRA for identifying a preferred option when community consultation had just started.

“Lowering the road will create a 5.5m trench that will effectively split the area in two, reducing access for local traders and commuters by removing access from Buckley St into neighbouring streets and shifting the traffic congestion into the local street network,” Cr Surace said.

Mr Caink said the design factored in council’s master plan for Essendon, including vision for better pedestrian connectivity.

“We want to avoid land acquisition and impact on the heritage-listed station, and that’s why we are talking with the community about a design to lower the road,” he said.

He said drivers would still be able to access surrounding roads from Buckley St.

In the peak hours from 7-9am on weekdays, boom gates at the Buckley St level crossing are down for an average 78 minutes.

The removal project is due to start at the end of next year and take 12 months to complete.

Tomorrow’s information session is on from 6-8pm at St Columba’s College.

To view the options or provide feedback, go to levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/crossings/buckley-st-essendon by December 18.

To find out more about council’s preference, go to mvcc.vic.gov.au/levelx