The final push to make the Lilydale Line Melbourne’s first level crossing free rail line kicks off next month, with the 2 remaining sets of boom gates set to go by early July.
Construction blitzes at Dublin Road, Ringwood East and Coolstore Road, Croydon will start from Friday 24 May, with crews working around the clock to remove both dangerous and congested level crossings and build the new Ringwood East and Croydon stations.
To enable these works to take place safely, buses will replace trains on sections of the Lilydale Line from 24 May until early July, when the new Ringwood East Station opens, followed by the new Croydon Station later that month.
The timing of major construction at both sites has been carefully coordinated to minimise rail and traffic disruption in Melbourne’s outer east. Combining the works over a shorter timeframe enables construction efficiencies and reduces the number of rail disruptions for commuters on the Lilydale Line, while crews work 24/7 to get rid of the level crossings as quickly as possible.
With the dangerous Cave Hill Road level crossing in Lilydale already closed, getting rid of the Dublin Road and Coolstore Road level crossings will mean the Lilydale Line will be boom gate free by mid 2024, a year ahead of schedule.
The Dublin Road level crossing will be removed by lowering the rail line into a 650m trench under the road. The new Ringwood East Station will feature a main concourse and second entry, platforms that are accessible by lifts and stairs, and upgraded pedestrian and cycling paths.
Dublin Road will close to traffic at the level crossing from 24 May until mid June, with detours in place to assist vehicles and pedestrians to cross the rail line during the works.
Removing this crossing will make Ringwood level crossing free, following the recent removal of the nearby Bedford Road level crossing.
In Croydon, Coolstore Road has closed at the level crossing to allow crews to install the giant beams that will form the new road bridge. When level crossing removal works are complete, Coolstore Road will continue into Main Street, and new road alignments and a signalised intersection will replace the Coolstore Road roundabout.
The new Croydon Transport Hub will feature a 687m elevated rail line, new premium station, streamlined 14-bay bus interchange, and new road connections to create more options to cross the rail line and untangle the road bottleneck in this area.
An additional 5 level crossings will be removed across Melbourne during winter, including 3 dangerous and congested level crossings in Pakenham and 2 crossings in Parkdale.