EIGHT more level crossings will be removed along the Frankston line as part of the Labor state government’s promise to separate 50 road and rail intersections across Victoria’s rail network.
Premier Daniel Andrews visited Carrum on Sunday to announce that the crossings to be separated from rail lines are likely to be removed as a single package of works “reducing disruption to residents, motorists and train passengers”.
Work has already begun on the removal of the Centre, North and McKinnon Rd level crossings, which will be gone by 2017.
“We’re getting rid of 50 of Victoria’s worst crossings because they clog our roads, cripple our train system and put lives at risk, and not a moment is being wasted in getting started on the eight crossings on the Frankston line,” Mr Andrews said.
“Combined with the removal of all nine level crossings between Dandenong and Caulfield, getting rid of these crossings will transform Melbourne’s south east, delivering more trains, less congestion and safer roads.”
Geotechnical investigations to better understand ground conditions have begun and detailed planning will begin this month, as well as community consultation along the corridor.
Pop up information stands will be installed at stations along the Frankston line and community information sessions will be held in the coming weeks.
Detailed planning and community consultation will continue through 2016, in preparation for a contract award in 2017 and start of construction in 2018.
Carrum Labor MP Sonya Kilkenny said: “Carrum and communities along the Frankston line have been living with these dangerous, congested crossings for too long.”
Mordialloc Labor MP Tim Richardson said the level crossings removals are “vital” to ease congestion and increase safety along the Frankston line.
“I look forward to getting community consultation underway and discussing the possibilities and solutions to how we will deliver these major projects,” he said.
The eight level crossings to be removed between Cheltenham and Frankston crossings are:
- Charman Rd, Cheltenham
- Balcombe Rd, Mentone
- Edithvale Rd, Edithvale
- Station St (at Bondi Rd), Bonbeach
- Station St, Carrum
- Eel Race Rd, Carrum
- Seaford Rd, Seaford
- Skye Rd, Frankston
Labor has costed the removal of the eight level crossings at $1 billion and still aims to use money from the privatisation of the Port of Melbourne to fund the removal of 50 level crossings across the state despite opposition from the Liberal Party and the Greens over the sale of the port.
“By 2018, work will have started or finished on more than half of the 50 dangerous and congested crossings we promised to get rid of,” Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 11 November 2015