Essendon traders feel heat as level crossing works force customers elsewhere

AN Essendon business owner says he is facing imminent closure after losing up to $80,000 in takings in three months because of level crossing removal works near his shop.

AN Essendon business owner says he is facing imminent closure after losing up to $80,000 in takings in three months because of works to remove the Buckley St level crossing.

Months of works on the level crossing removal of Essendon train station has taken a toll on Essendon Cyclery owner Riley Uebergang.

In March, station bus stops were relocated to outside his shop on Mt Alexander Rd.

The works closed two train station carparks in March and since then commuters, nearby shop staff, and construction workers have taken up carparks used by his customers.

The level crossing removal authority (LXRA) originally told Mr Uebergang the stops would only be there for six weeks, but after 12 weeks he called LXRA and was told the stops would remain until next year.

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“I’ve had about 30 to 40 per cent growth the last few years so I’ve put more staff on and bought more stock. But my takings took a nosedive, I lost $60-$80,000 in about three months,: he said.

Riley Uebergang at the temporary bus stop outside his Essendon store. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

“I’ve got no cash reserves left and I’m teetering between closing and staying open.”

Other grim-faced Essendon traders said their businesses had taken a hammering in the first few days of removing the train tracks, with Buckley St closed for two weeks and Rose St only open to one-way traffic.

Works began last week and some Rose St traders told the Moonee Valley Leader their takings were down between 30 and 50 per cent.

One trader said the closure of Buckley St had deterred motorists from visiting the shopping strip.

“I can understand it, I mean if I saw a ‘road closed’ sign I’m going to turn around and go elsewhere,” she said.

Beauty on Rose relocated earlier this year.

Buckley St will be closed between Mt Alexander Rd and Violet St in both directions until 6am on Friday, July 6.

The Buckley St and Rose St businesses are expected to trade through the construction works. While Buckley St is closed, Rose St is still accessible from Mt Alexander Rd via Shamrock St.

One trader who was smiling last week was Tim O’Sullivan from coffee shop Benny & Me.

Mr O’Sullivan said level crossing workers had been coming to his cafe many times a day.

“All the tradies have been fantastic. We have been super busy. They have been good, really supportive,” he said.

Essendon state Labor MP Danny Pearson encouraged Moonee Valley residents “to support local traders in the precinct”.

The Level Crossing Removal Authority is constructing a road under the Essendon station railway line to fix longstanding traffic delays on Buckley St.

Business is still good at Benny & Me cafe.

CHANGES TO STATION DESIGN AND CYCLING NETWORK

Mr Pearson said new traffic lights and a pedestrian crossing would be built at the corner of Shamrock St and Mt Alexander Rd as part of the level crossing removal.

Bike lanes would be added to Miller St and Shamrock St offering an alternative route to Buckley St.

New entrance ramps will also be built to the central underpass beneath Essendon station from Rose St and Russell St and will be fully compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act.

Regular Buckley St cyclist Jenica Brooke praised the new traffic lights but said the alternative route did not make her east-west commute any safer than using Buckley St.

“If you’re riding on Buckley St and take the detour up to Shamrock St to cross Mt Alexander Rd, you still have to navigate through the incredibly dangerous roundabout at Napier St and Fletcher St, to get back to Buckley St.

“It’s horrific. People watch out their windows for car crashes there.

“[The LXRA] are doing anything they can do to avoid making Buckley St safe to cycle on. This is just further towards not doing anything at Buckley St,” she said.

Buckley St is part of the Principal Bicycle Network and is the only direct east west connection through that whole area.

The LXRA has said Buckley St was not wide enough to include three lanes of traffic and an additional bike lane without the acquisition of property.

Ms Brooke said she, along with many other cyclists, would continue to use Buckley St after the crossing removal was finished because it led directly to the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail.

“I will take the risk anyway. People will still use it regardless if it’s safe or not.”

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