What’s happening?

The Level Crossing Removal Project has been established to remove 50 dangerous and congested level crossings across Melbourne.

The removal of these level crossings will:

• deliver significant safety improvements for drivers and pedestrians
• improve travel around Melbourne – whether you’re a train user, pedestrian, cyclist or driver
• get people home safer and faster
• make our roads more reliable, enabling people to better predict their travel times
• stimulate economic growth by creating thousands of jobs during construction
• revitalise local communities, with many areas benefiting from station rebuilds
• enable more trains to run more often and on time.

Construction has already commenced at several sites, and planning is underway for the remaining sites.

We’re removing the level crossing at Bell Street in Preston as it is a major cause of congestion for the 52,000 vehicles that pass through it each weekday. It is one of several level crossing removals brought forward by the Victorian Government to have early works begin in 2018.

What we're currently doing

Planning is underway for the removal of the Bell Street level crossing, with community consultation having started in mid 2016 and continuing into 2017. This will help inform the design for removing the level crossing.

You may have noticed geotechnical investigations and site surveys taking place near the level crossing in June 2016. Data collected from these investigations and surveys will provide crucial information about the underground rock, soil and water conditions and the local geography.

Why remove the boom gates?

The Bell Street level crossing boom gates are down for around 27 minutes during the 2 hour morning peak, causing congestion and frustration in Melbourne’s north.

How will the level crossing be removed?

There are several options to separate the road and railway line. These options include raising the railway line over the road, lowering the railway line under the road, raising the road over the railway line or lowering the road under the railway line.

Before assessing these options we need to understand key details about the site, such as engineering constraints, urban design, local connectivity and heritage and environmental issues. These then help us consider how each design option will affect things like the impact to residents and other properties, cost, and impact to road traffic and rail operations.

Each site is different and each design needs to consider all of these factors. Community feedback is also an important factor, and along with the above considerations will help us to determine which design is the best for each site.

Get involved

We want to start the conversation early and work with you as we prepare to remove the Bell Street level crossing. Over the next few months the community will have a number of opportunities to have their say on the project.

As a first step, sign up for email updates or connect with us on social media via the contact details on the front page. We’ll send you the latest news directly, and also let you know how you can have your say at each stage of the project.

We’ll soon be hosting community drop-in sessions for local residents and community members, speaking with passengers at train stations and visiting shopping precincts to speak with traders. Look out for details on our website, on social media or in your local newspaper.

Timeline

Planning, early to mid 2016

• Site investigations
• Identification of options
• Stakeholder engagement
• Community consultation

Options Development, late 2016 to 2017

• Community consultation
• Assessment of options
• Presentation of feasible options
• Recommended design option announced

Procurement, commencing 2017

• Project is put to tender
• Evaluation of tenders

Delivery, commencing 2018

• Contract to design and construct is awarded
• Community consultation
• Works commencing