The Allan Labor Government has removed its 85th dangerous and congested level crossing in Melbourne - opening a new road bridge to traffic in Beaconsfield.
Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams today announced the Station Street level crossing is gone for good and the new McKenna Drive bridge is now open to motorists connecting Beaconsfield Avenue to Kenilworth Avenue over the Pakenham Line, boosting safety and easing congestion in the area.
With this dangerous level crossing gone, the Pakenham Line is one step closer to being level crossing free later this year, with just two sets of boom gates to go from Melbourne's busiest rail line.
The milestone coincides with the release of updated safety data showing the Labor Government's Level Crossing Removal Project program has made our roads safer by preventing 111 crashes and near misses every year and has slashed travel times in the morning by saving 55 hours of boom gate down time.
The safety data is backed by new figures from Metro Trains showing the number of train and vehicle collisions and near misses across the metropolitan network has fallen by almost 80 per cent since 2019, from an average of 11 incidents a month to just two incidents a month last year.
The Level Crossing Removal Project is one of the largest rail infrastructure projects in the state's history, delivering major improvements across the rail network while also supporting more than 6,000 jobs, with 104 million hours worked on the congestion-busting program to date.
The program has also delivered 54 new and upgraded stations, 7,000 car parking spaces, 60 kilometres of walking and cycling connections, and has made way for 20 MCGs worth of open spaces, with approximately 3.4 million grasses and shrubs and 27,000 trees planted across Melbourne.
Passengers on the Pakenham Line will also have access to five new state-of-the-art underground stations when the Metro Tunnel opens later this year.
The Level Crossing Removal Project is removing 110 level crossings across Melbourne by 2030.
As stated by Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams
"In 2021 we made a promise to get rid of 85 level crossings by 2025 and that's exactly what we've done."
"Getting rid of the Station Street, Beaconsfield level crossing brings the Pakenham Line one step closer to being boom gate free in 2025, transforming journeys in our city's south east."
"Brad Battin and the Victorian Liberals opposed this level crossing removal, just like they've opposed the West Gate Tunnel and Metro Tunnel, because their only instinct is to block, not build the roads, rail and homes Victorians need."
As stated by Member for South-East Metropolitan Region Michael Galea
"Getting rid of the Station Street boom gates will benefit Beaconsfield residents by making local streets safer and journeys smoother."
