- Premier
The Andrews Labor Government is delivering on its promise to 75 dangerous and congested level crossings by 2025 - with 50 level crossing removal contracts now awarded across Melbourne, and 30 crossings already gone.
Premier Daniel Andrews joined Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan today to announce that contracts have been awarded to remove five level crossings on the Frankston line and the Clyde Road crossing on the Pakenham line.
It means the Labor Government has now awarded 50 level crossing removal contracts since it came to office - in line with its signature 2014 election commitment to remove 50 level crossings by 2022. At the last election Labor went further - committing to get rid of a further 25 crossings, with 75 gone by 2025.
The $744 million contract for work at Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach has been awarded to an alliance of Lendlease, Acciona Coleman Rail, WSP and Metro Trains Melbourne - with major work to start next year.
The Frankston line will be lowered, removing level crossings at Edithvale Road in Edithvale, Station Street in Bonbeach, and Argyle Avenue, Chelsea Road and Swanpool Avenue in Chelsea.
New, safe, accessible stations will be built at Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach, and will reflect the coastal look and feel of the area - delivering on feedback from community consultation on the design of the stations. Thames Promenade will be extended to the Nepean Highway at Chelsea - improving traffic along this stretch of highway.
An alliance comprising Fulton Hogan and Metro Trains Melbourne has been awarded the $166 million contract to remove the Clyde Road level crossing in Berwick by lowering the road under the Pakenham line - boosting safety and reducing congestion for the 22,000 drivers who use the crossing every day.
The Labor Government is investing $3 billion to improve the Frankston line, with the new Carrum Station to open in mid-February and major works starting in Cheltenham and Mentone. For more information, visit bigbuild.vic.gov.au.
As noted by Premier Daniel Andrews
"We're keeping our promises and removing dangerous and congested level crossings."
"Every level crossing removal makes local streets safer, improves traffic flow and allows us run more trains - and every one of them creates Victorian jobs."
As stated by Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan
"We said we'd remove 75 level crossings by 2025 and with contracts now awarded for 50, we're well on track."
As stated by Member for Mordialloc Tim Richardson
"These level crossings choke our roads and put lives at risk - getting rid of them will make a real difference for our community and everyone travelling along this stretch of the Nepean Highway."
As stated by Member for Carrum Sonya Kilkenny
"With work steaming ahead in Carrum, it's great Bonbeach residents will soon say goodbye to their dangerous level crossing and hello to their new station."
