Frankston community hits back at Level Crossing removals as project drags on
Level crossings were once a commuter’s biggest headache, but now more than half have been removed. See our exclusive feature on how the Frankston line has changed in the past decade.
South East
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They dotted the suburbs with alarming regularity — and made motorists see red with rage more often than not.
So when the Labor state government began its ambitious plan to rid Melbourne of many of its most infuriating level crossings, voters from across the political spectrum put aside their differences and applauded the goals of the mammoth project.
See our interactive map of the Frankston line removals below.
Not only did their removal aim to reduce congestion, wait times and increase safety it would allow for more train services and get more people of the roads.
The aerial imagery in this special look at how the Frankston line has changed is from Australian location intelligence company Nearmap.
The company provides government organisations, architectural, construction and engineering firms, and other companies, with easy, instant access to high resolution aerial imagery, city-scale 3D content, artificial intelligence data sets, and geospatial tools to assist with urban planning, monitoring and development projects in Australia, New Zealand, and North America.
On the busy Frankston line, 16 levels crossing have been removed out of planned 30. A Leader special reveals the project has caused as many problems as it purported to remove.
The level crossing removal at Carrum station had caused plenty of headaches for locals, resident Ian Collins said.
“They removed a supposedly dangerous level crossing, and produced an even more dangerous intersection,” he said.
“Wait times are just as long now as they were when we were waiting for the boom gates.”
Others say works on the intersection caused flow on effects to surrounding roads.
“We now have an even bigger bottle neck at Mcleod Rd and Nepean Highway intersection,” Steve Burnham said
“It’s worse than before because there aren’t enough places to cross the rail line.”
Mentone residents have declared their displeasure in the closure of the Latrobe St level crossing, some calling it a “political closure”.
“I can’t help but feel this is a political closure of a perfectly fine crossing,” Susie King said.
“It’s all so it can be said the Frankston line is level crossing free.
“What sense is there in closing this road which is wider than all the side streets people will end up diverting down as a result?”
Mentone resident Joe Vandeligt said he had seen emergency service vehicles battling difficult conditions trying to use Balcombe Rd.
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