Boomgates banished at 25 level crossings in congestion blitz
DOZENS of road and rail projects are scheduled to wrap up in the coming weeks after construction teams worked around the clock to finish the stations and sky rail strips.
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DOZENS of road and rail projects are scheduled to wrap up in the coming weeks as the Andrews Government clears congestion ahead of the November state election.
Six level crossing removals will be finished by next Sunday, bringing the total removed to 25.
It will see the government cruise past its promise to remove 20 in its first term.
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Among the boom gates banished this week are the final four between Caulfield and Dandenong — Melbourne’s busiest train corridor — allowing trains to flow freely.
New stations will open in Carnegie and Murrumbeena on Monday, as well as Frankston station on the Frankston line.
Construction teams worked around the clock to finish the stations — and run test trains along the Cranbourne-Pakenham sky rail strip — over the past week and weekend.
Finishing touches are also being applied to major road repairs or upgrades.
Those set to wrap up within months include the Monash Freeway upgrade, the CityLink-Tullamarine widening project, a Chandler Highway upgrade, an M80 Upgrade between Sunshine Ave and Calder Fwy, and the streamlining Hoddle Street project.
The push to reopen major freeways and clear rail lines comes amid concerns that disruptions will anger motorists and public transport passengers.
While some interruptions are expected right up until the November 24 election, including several major road projects, many will be completed or continuing in stages that won’t cause traffic mayhem.
Premier Daniel Andrews told the Sunday Herald Sun that the government would not stop targeting congested level crossings.
He campaigned prior to 2014 on removing 50 level crossings over two terms, including 20 in the first four years.
“We won’t stop getting rid of these relics of the past,” he said.
“Too many Victorians have lost their lives at level crossings — today we remember them and their loved ones as we make real change that will save lives in the future.”
#MurrumbeenaStation sure has changed over the past year! We've removed the old tracks and ballast, and we're now building lift and escalator foundations. Trains are back Monday - not long now! 🙂 More: https://t.co/J7ne4Se2bm#thanksforyourpatience #transformingMelbourne pic.twitter.com/7K5l9vSzba
— Level Crossings (@levelcrossings) June 15, 2018
Murrumbeena resident James Clarke documented sky rail’s rise with the 3.2km stretch of elevated rail running opposite his house.
Time lapse videos captured on a camera stuck to his fence show the often-dusty and dirty construction.
“When you’ve got so much construction outside your door, it would be remiss not to pay attention,” Mr Clarke said.
“It’s been busy, it’s been noisy and it’s been dusty — we’ve even had to escape from the house a couple of times.
“But we are looking forward to the project being finished, having a bike track there and other facilities.”
The Cranbourne to Pakenham corridor will reopen tomorrow after almost a fortnight of replacement buses.
Workers spent months constructing sections of the new elevated rail around the existing train line to minimise disruptions.
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Construction director Simon Barnes said a specialist carrier system never before used in Australia was brought in to work in the confined corridor — just 15m wide at its narrowest.
“It is basically back fence to back fence with residents on either side so the challenge was build along the line, rather than from the sides," Mr Barnes said.
“We took the best technology we could find in the world and brought it here to Melbourne to build these viaducts.”
Work to remove another four level crossings — Kororoit Creek Rd in Williamstown North, Abbotts Rd in Dandenong South, Buckley St in Essendon and Seaford Rd in Seaford — is already underway.
The Sunday Herald Sun understands the Kororoit Creek Rd and Buckley St removals could be complete by the November election.
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