Today marks a significant milestone on the Level Crossing Removal Project, with the first of 50 level crossings officially removed.
At 5am this morning, Burke Road, Glen Iris was reopened, with motorists and pedestrians now experiencing significantly safer and faster travel through this area. Trams have also returned to normal operations after being closed for a week.
Before major work started in July 2015, the Burke Road level crossing was one of Victoria's worst, with boom gates down for more than 40 minutes during the 2-hour morning peak. More than 26,000 vehicles and 150 trains used the crossing every day and it was one of only 4 main arterial roads in Melbourne where trams crossed the railway lines.
Over the next week works will continue 24 hours a day, with more than 250 workers on site to finish Gardiner Station, transforming the area into a modern transport interchange.
Congratulations to the project team, who has spent 110,000 man hours removing the boom gates on Burke Road in Glen Iris, and transforming Gardiner Station.
The project team has made extraordinary progress in just 6 months with the boom gates now gone forever and a new tram platform stop opened.