Three More Level Crossings To Go In Melbourne’s West
04 July 2019
Two Werribee CBD locations and Hoppers
Crossing will soon be
level-crossing free thanks to the Andrews Labor
Government – boosting safety, busting congestion and making the suburbs
easier to get around.
Treasurer Tim Pallas today announced designs to banish the boom gates
and better connect communities at three locations along the Werribee
line – at Werribee Street and Cherry Street in Werribee, and Old Geelong
Road in Hoppers Crossing. It means there will be no level crossings on
Metro lines in Wyndham.
Works to remove the Old Geelong Road level crossing will also be
fast-tracked so that it can be delivered alongside the two Werribee
crossings, with construction to begin next year and all three crossings
gone in 2022.
After
geotechnical and engineering investigations, there are two
feasible designs to remove the crossing at each of the three locations.
Each site has a preferred design based on technical considerations and
long-term benefits.
The preferred design to remove the Old Geelong Road crossing is to
construct a new road
bridge over the
rail line east of the existing
crossing, directly connecting the Princes Highway to Old Geelong Road
and Heaths Road.
At Cherry Street, the preferred design would also see a new
road bridge
built east of the existing crossing, linking Tarneit Road to the Princes
Highway via the irrigation channel next to Wyndham City Council offices.
These preferred designs will ensure better access for commuters to the
Princes Highway and Princes Freeway, create less disruption to motorists
and passengers during construction and make it safer to get to important
facilities such as hospitals, shopping centres and schools.
The preferred design to remove the Werribee Street level crossing is to
elevate the Werribee line over the road. This design will add more open
space underneath to complement Wyndham City Council’s
multimillion-dollar improvements at Wyndham Park, and can be constructed
with minimal disruption to road users.
Close to 60,000 vehicles and several bus routes use these three level
crossings each day, with about 140 Metro services daily on the Werribee
line and lengthy freight services.
Improving safety is another key factor for the removal of these level
crossings. Since 2005, incidents have included a fatal collision between
a train and a vehicle, three serious collisions and at least 50 near
misses.
The project will be holding two community drop-in sessions around
Werribee and Hoppers Crossing, with information about the project on
display. People can also view designs, sign up for email updates and
join the conversation at
www.levelcrossings.vic.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Treasurer and Member for Werribee Tim
Pallas
“This is a real win for the local community – we’re fast-tracking the
Hoppers Crossing project so all three level crossing removals on the
Werribee line will be completed at the same time.”
“Just like the 29 level crossings we’ve already removed across
Melbourne, these three sites at Werribee and Hoppers Crossing cause
nothing but frustration and anxiety – they have to go.”
Quote attributable to Member for Tarneit Sarah Connolly
“Anyone who has been stuck behind the boom gates at these level
crossings knows what a difference removing them will make. I’m proud
Wyndham will be level crossing free under the Andrews Labor Government.”
--ENDS--
Source: Victorian Government - www.premier.vic.gov.au
Contact: N/A
External Links: www.levelcrossings.vic.gov.au
Recent news by: Victorian Government