Lilydale level crossing: Traffic woes continue at Maroondah Highway site

The removal of the Lilydale level crossing hasn’t eased congestion in the area, with motorists pleading for another solution.

Motorists and traders in a outer eastern Melbourne suburb are dreading the return of students to school, fearing it will make congestion at a level crossing removal site even worse.

The new Mooroolbark and Lilydale stations opened to passengers last November, following the removal of the Manchester Rd and Maroondah Highway level crossings, with the state government promising the projects would ease congestion and improve safety.

But motorists are still facing long delays at the Lilydale site – and many would like to see the road duplicated, and made into two lanes each way, to ease congestion.

More than 150 people had their say on the project on Lilydale & Yarra Valley’s Facebook page, with the majority saying the removal of the crossing had actually made traffic worse.

Many called for Maroondah Highway to be converted into two lanes both ways through Main St, to stop cars banking up as they formed one lane approaching the new traffic lights.

“I know the trees aren’t meant to be removed but they need to be to make double lanes,” Beccy Stekelenburg said, while Daniel Renkema described the situation as “Absolutely hopeless”.

“It’s even slower then before and more stopping,” he said.

“It’s the major arterial road to the east, that has been a single lane arterial road in both directions for a hundred years,” Derek Dalton said.

“So they spend millions of dollars getting rid of the old railway line. So that’s done, great move, but we’re still left with one single lane highway in each direction.”

Marie Rulz said the new traffic lights meant cars now stopped every 10 minutes, not every hour or so.

Jackie Fantastic Boehmer said: “Whoever designed (the level crossing removal) could not live around here,” she said.

Scottie Bennett said the only positive was the speed/red light camera had been removed from Main St.

“The whole SkyRail project has made traffic flow worse, increased traffic is now banked up on Victoria Rd as people are using the back way to avoid Main St,” he said.

Valme Jacobs said improvements were needed with the school term now underway.

“During the school term I think they need to put a lollipop lady on duty because every time one student gets to the crossing they press the button. Only two cars were going through the intersection.”

“Accidents waiting happen – when schools go back will be worse,” Drene Mills said.

Commuters at the new Lilydale station. Picture: Level Crossing Removal Project

A Level Crossing Removal Project spokesperson said: “Removing the dangerous Maroondah Highway level crossing has made the roads safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians travelling through the intersection and accessing the newly built Lilydale station and bus interchange.”

A 40km/h speed limit remains in place while Level Crossing Removal project crews continue finishing works on the Lilydale station bus interchange, carparking in the station precinct and landscaping works.

While works are continuing, signalling on side streets turning into the Maroondah Highway intersection has been adjusted to reduce congestion building up on the highway.

“40-kilometre speed limits will remain in place while crews finish works, and traffic engineers will monitor traffic levels and adjust traffic signals as required before the road is fully reopened in mid-2022,” the spokesperson said.

In better news for commuters, a new multi-level carpark at Mooroolbark station will open months ahead of schedule.

The 900-space, four-level carpark will open in autumn, doubling the station’s parking capacity.

And landscaping and station precinct works will soon ramp up at the two crossing sites, with more than 60,000 trees, shrubs and grasses to be planted.

Finishing works on signalling and track tamping will also be completed next month with buses replacing trains between Lilydale and Ringwood from Monday, February 14 to Wednesday. February 16.

The Lilydale line will be level crossing free by 2025, with the state government announcing the crossings at Mont Albert Rd Mont Albert and Union Rd Surrey Hills had been fast-tracked for removal and would both be gone for good by next year.