Sky Rail opens: Level crossings are gone but some resident rage remains

RESIDENTS in Melbourne’s southeast remain split over the controversial Sky Rail project after the final level crossings were removed and local roads reopened.

RESIDENTS in Melbourne’s southeast remain split over the controversial sky rail project after the final level crossings were removed and local roads reopened.

The project, in which nine level crossings were removed along 8km of track on Melbourne’s busiest rail corridor, is nearly finished, with one station still closed and open space under the lines yet to be landscaped.

BOOMGATES BANISHED AS SKY RAIL REIGNS

SKY RAIL ON FAST TRACK TO EYESORE

MIXED EMOTIONS AS SKY RAIL TRAINS ROLL

A new 3.2-kilometre stretch of elevated rail has opened for passengers between Caulfield and Hughesdale. Picture: David Caird

Graffiti on the wall of a building close to the old tracks next to Carnegie railway station. Picture: David Caird

Some residents near the massive structure are outraged, saying their homes have been ruined.

But others said the new structure enabled them to get around their community and had improved local train stations.

Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said: “Locals can get to work, drop their kids to school and move about the community without ever having to worry about boom gates again.”

But she refused to confirm the final cost of the project, which began with a $1.6 billion price tag.

Opposition public transport spokesman David Davis accused Labor of hiding cost overruns.

“Victorian taxpayers have a right to know how much these blowouts will cost them,” he said.