Dangerous level crossings due for removal have been fast-tracked by the Victorian Government
The Victoria State Government has announced it has fast-tracked the removal of four more dangerous and congested level crossings.
Level crossings at Melton Highway in Sydenham, Abbotts Road in Dandenong South, Thompsons Road in Lyndhurst, and Kororoit Creek in Williamstown North will be removed as well as those in the current plan.
This means 23 level crossings removals are getting underway, with all 23 set to be gone by 2019 and at least 20 of them gone in the next three years.
In addition, work to remove eight level crossings on the Frankston line will begin in 2018.
Premier Daniel Andrews and minister for public transport Jacinta Allan say the removal of the level crossings will reduce congestion, improve safety and create local jobs.
More than 40 buses, 100 trains and 20,000 cars, trucks and bikes use Kororoit Creek Road level crossing every day. Removing it will improve traffic flow and safety, and create capacity to run more trains.
“These level crossings are dangerous, congested and suffocate our train system. They are relics of the past and they need to go,” says Daniels.
“We’ve already awarded more than a billion dollars in contracts for level crossing removals. After years of inaction, we’re getting on with it.”