Melbourne’s 87th Level Crossing Removal
The 87th level crossing has been removed from Melbourne’s rail network, promising safer and faster journeys for thousands of motorists.
Gabrielle Williams, the Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure, disclosed that Calder Park has now been liberated from level crossings, with the inauguration of the Calder Park Drive bridge facilitating the safe passage of motorists over the rail line.
The newly constructed road bridge is poised to enhance safety measures and alleviate congestion in Melbourne's burgeoning northwest by permanently segregating trains from vehicular traffic.
The removal of the Calder Park Drive level crossing is anticipated to enhance traffic flow within the vicinity, enabling the closure of the level crossing at the nearby Holden Road, which will remain accessible via Plumpton Road.
Over 10,000 vehicles traversed these level crossings daily, encountering delays of up to 26 minutes during the morning peak period when 25 trains traversed the crossings.
The elimination of these crossings averts the potential for extended boom gate closures when the Metro Tunnel commences operations this year, thereby facilitating the introduction of additional services on the Sunbury Line. Furthermore, it eradicates the risk of severe safety incidents, with three near misses recorded at these locations since 2012.
In the forthcoming months, work crews will finalize the shared-use path on the road bridge and carry out landscaping endeavours, including the plantation of over 200 trees and 100,000 native and indigenous plants, shrubs, and grasses throughout the region.
The Level Crossing Removal Project is on track to eliminate 110 level crossings across Melbourne by 2030, with the entire Sunbury, Cranbourne, and Pakenham lines set to be free of boom gates by year's end.
Minister Williams emphasized that with the impending launch of the Metro Tunnel later this year, the rail network is poised to witness heightened activity.
“Getting rid of the Calder Park Drive and Holden Road level crossings will make journeys safer and more reliable for road and rail users.”
Source: Infrastructure Magazine
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