Lilydale level crossing: Traffic lights cause traffic chaos

It was supposed to ease congestion, but a level crossing removal project in the outer east is causing more pain for drivers. Watch the video.

It was supposed to reduce the time spent in traffic, but a $496 million level crossing removal project in Melbourne’s outer east has only caused more angst for drivers.

Motorists and local traders have reported traffic banking up for longer along Maroondah Highway after the removal of the Lilydale level crossing, and the introduction of traffic lights in its place.

A $496 million contract to remove the Lilydale and Manchester Rd Mooroolbark crossings was awarded in 2020, with the state government vowing the project would slash travel times, improve connectivity across all modes of transport and improve safety and liveability.

But with the majority of work now complete, and trains running over new rail bridges, traffic is still banking up along Maroondah Highway as drivers wait for the new traffic lights to change, with some traders and motorists saying the project has made congestion even worse.

Cars turning left into Maroondah Highway from side road William St East now also have to give way to pedestrians, then wait at another set of lights before they can go.

Motorist Lucas Condello said the new traffic lights were “a disaster for traffic”.

“Bring back the level crossing,” he said.

Jacquie Withers said the stations looked great but the new traffic lights needed their timing changed.

“Backing traffic up from the station back to the Mooroolbark Rd intersection along the highway at 12.30pm is not a good thing,” she said.

Gerard Mahney agreed it was not a good move.

“Yep we’ll replace the level crossing with two sets of traffic lights to stop congestion, nice planning,” he said.

The Yarra Valley Smokery owner Alex Tsao, whose business is only metres away from the station, said traffic had become worse since the crossing was removed because the traffic light sequences were not working properly.

He said as a result, traffic was banking up more regularly along Maroondah Highway.

“They need to do a traffic study and change the timing on those signals or it’s going to get worse and worse,” he said.

Lisa and Rachelle from Smoothline Dry Cleaners agreed traffic had got worse since the traffic lights went in, and said it was now harder to get out of the slip lane where their store was located and onto Maroondah Highway.

Cars coming from the slip lane near the shops onto William Street East near the new lights.

Lilydale motorist Adrian Wedd said both Lilydale and Mooroolbark stations should have gone underground, or at the very least a pedestrian underpass or overpass put in “to stop the lights changing every two seconds”.

“Traffic flow hasn’t improved at all,” he said.

A Level Crossing Removal Project spokesperson said temporary speed limits were in place along Maroondah Highway until early December while crews finish works and traffic engineers fully optimise the traffic light sequence.

“Removing the dangerous Maroondah Highway level crossing has made the roads safer for drivers, cyclists and for pedestrians accessing the newly built Lilydale Station and bus interchange.”