Close to 300 locals turned out last Saturday for a community celebration at Beaconsfield Station to thank residents for their patience while crews work to remove the dangerous and congested Station Street level crossing and build the new road bridge.
Free coffee and toasties provided a handy energy boost while kids enjoyed a range of activities, including face painting, art and crafts, and playing on the ever-popular Building Blocks equipment. Kids also enjoyed the opportunity to sit in a fire truck provided by the local CFA.
The event was also an opportunity to unveil the station’s new artwork – a series of 50 works by students from nearby Beaconsfield Kindergarten and St Francis Xavier College, to be displayed on the station fence line until the project finishes next year.
Each student received a certificate of appreciation for their creative efforts, while prizes were up for grabs for winners of a treasure hunt, with clues to the quiz hidden in the artworks.
Project team members were also on hand to answer questions about the new road bridge, which is progressing well, with the bridge foundations now in place, including all 52 beams.
Removing the Station Street level crossing will improve safety and ease congestion for drivers who face lengthy delays when the boom gates are down for almost a third of the morning peak.
Getting rid of these boom gates will also help to make the Pakenham Line level crossing free in 2025 and, together with the Metro Tunnel, will allow more trains to run on the line.
