January in Reservoir is all about site establishment for our team. If you find yourself near Reservoir Station in the coming weeks, you will notice the installation of our temporary station buildings, site facilities and construction equipment.
Major works will then start to remove the High Street level crossing and build a new Reservoir station.
The level crossing is set to be replaced by an innovative rail bridge incorporating a premium station and landscaped public plaza. Community feedback has been incorporated into the precinct designs.
The new station will include above ground platforms with access via lifts and stairs. The station forecourt will be accessible from either side of the station plaza and have waiting areas, better lighting and station facilities, vastly improving travel for the 4000 people who use the station every day.
The station precinct will better connect the east and west of Reservoir – an added benefit of the elevated rail design.
The rail bridge design also means work can occur while keeping Reservoir Station open and trains running for the majority of the construction period.
Once the construction site compound has been established, rail overhead power lines and utilities will be relocated, enabling bridge piling and foundation work to commence.
On average, 36,000 vehicles travel through the notorious Reservoir level crossing each day where High Street, Cheddar Road and Spring Street intersect, and 6 boom gates can be down for 24 minutes during the 2-hour morning peak.
In the past decade there were 3 recorded collisions and 1 fatality plus 26 near miss incidents.
In addition to improving safety and freeing up the congested intersection the project will provide a jobs boost, employing hundreds of people throughout the course of planning and construction.
It will also provide employment for young workers and people reskilling from other industries, with at least 10% of work carried out by trainees, apprentices and engineering cadets.
While works continue, the Reservoir Station carpark and bus interchange will be closed. Temporary bus stops will be on Broadway, High Street, Spring Street and Cheddar Road. Alternative parking will be available at nearby stations and neighbouring streets.
The Reservoir level crossing removal and new station is scheduled for completion in 2020.