Traders expect ‘mayhem’ during Reservoir level crossing shutdown

Traders are expecting the worst for a week affected by replacement buses, road detours and delays. And commuters won’t be spared the pain either.

Commuters and traders are in for a week of delays while the Reservoir station level crossing is closed. Picture: Ian Currie

Traders and commuters are bracing for “mayhem” during a major construction blitz on the Mernda line.

The High St level crossing will be closed for an entire week as part of the Level Crossing Removal Project works to pave the way for the new, elevated Reservoir station.

From 8.30pm on Wednesday to 5am on April 10, detours will be in place, forcing drivers down Keon Parade, Mahoneys Rd and Regent St to cross the rail tracks.

SKY RAIL PROMISED FOR RESERVOIR CROSSING

THORNBURY RAILWAY HOT SPOT FOR DANGER

‘UNPRECEDENTED’ DELAYS THE NEW NORM

Instead of heading through the crossing to get from Broadway to Edwardes St, drivers will do a 3.7km loop down into Preston before heading up the other side.

Detours will be in place from April 3 to 10. Picture: LXRP

There will be 105 replacement buses running between Thornbury and Epping stations as the track is closed.

Passengers should allow an extra 45 minutes to their usual journey time.

LXRP deputy project director Carmine Ciavarella said careful planning had been done to minimise the impact on commuters.

“Access to all businesses will be maintained throughout the works and we encourage the community to shop local to support these businesses,” he said.

Crews will work around the clock during the closure to demolish the existing station and install a temporary one.

But business owners, who say they have already been struggling in a trade downturn, are bracing for the worst.

Reservoir Traders Association president Michael Love said the closures would cause “mayhem” and traders had noticed less foot traffic in the past few months.

“(Traders) were all telling me there was a downturn in the street,” he said.

“(Traffic) is busy now at the best of times but closing the crossing, it’s sort of like the Berlin Wall or the Great Divide.”

Mr Love said businesses were still open and needed customers through the doors.

He said they would be putting on Easter promotions with the LXRP, such as an egg hunt, to encourage people to the area.

But Mr Love said it was important to keep perspective that the disruption was for progress.

“We knew it was coming, it’s a big project and it’s progress. It’s messy in the middle,” he said.

“Grit your teeth, suck it up and we’ll be okay.”

More road and rail disruptions will occur later this year, with the project to be completed in 2020.

For more information on the closure and traffic detours visit the LXRP website.

@richardapearce