DISRUPTIVE level crossing removal works on the Frankston line are expected to drag out years longer than originally planned.
The state government is removing all level crossings on the Frankston line, and had targeted a 2029 end date for works. The most recent state budget revealed that the completion date has been pushed back to mid-2032.
On page 72 of budget paper four, one sentence reveals the significant delay. “The estimated completion date has been revised to quarter 4 2031-32 to align Highett Road and Wickham Road, Highett and Latrobe Street, Mentone level crossing removals with the Suburban Rail Loop delivery schedule to realise construction efficiencies and minimise disruption for Frankston line passengers,” the budget paper read.
The Big Build Victoria website confirms the delay, and now reads that “we’re removing all dangerous and congested level crossings on the Frankston Line by 2032.” A 2022 statement issued by Big Build Victoria read “a total of 27 level crossings will be gone from the Frankston Line by 2029, clearing the way for more frequent services, improving safety and easing congestion.”
“The project will include new stations at Highett, Mordialloc, Aspendale and Seaford, delivering modern facilities for passengers, which will see 17 new state-of-the-art stations built on the Frankston Line by 2029,” the 2022 statement read. The new Mordialloc Station opened late last month.
In response to questions from The Times, the Level Crossing Removal Project issued a statement reading “deferring the Highett Road and Wickham Road level crossing removals to align with construction of the Suburban Rail Loop station in Cheltenham will minimise disruptions for thousands of passengers, residents and businesses, and avoids impacting the same communities twice.
“Journeys will be safer and more reliable by getting rid of every level crossing on the Frankston Line, with 24 already gone for good and a brand new Mordialloc Station opening to passengers in May.”
Opposition MP Brad Roswell, representing the Sandringham electorate, took to social media to slam the delay. He said “Highett residents deserve better than Labor’s broken promises. They once pledged that the level crossing at Highett Road and the one up at Wickham Road would be removed by 2029; they’ve now pushed that back to 2032.”
“They haven’t consulted with local residents about sky rail or any other option, They haven’t stayed in touch, and engaged with the community in the way you would expect the state government to do,” he said. “I believe Highett residents and business owners deserve so much better than this.”
The budget papers read that total estimated investment in 25 statewide level crossings had “decreased by $38.238 million due to budgeted amounts being reclassified as operating instead of capital expenditure, in line with accounting standards.
First published in the Frankston Times – 2 June 2026