Two dangerous and congested level crossings at Fitzgerald Road, Ardeer and Robinsons Road, Deer Park, have been fast tracked for removal by 2023.
Following months of site investigations and engineering assessments, the Robinsons Road level crossing will be removed with a road underpass, and the nearby Fitzgerald Road level crossing will be removed with a road overpass.
The Deer Park and Ardeer level crossings have a concerning safety record with 18 near misses since 2012. The boom gates can be down for up to 45 per cent of the morning peak when up to 37 trains run through the crossings, causing delays and frustration for around 53,000 passenger and freight vehicles that travel through the level crossings in the area each day.
The designs shorten the construction timeframe to minimise disruptions to train services, nearby residents and businesses, and will allow for future improvements to the transport network including possible future upgrades of nearby roads and the Geelong–Ballarat line.
The designs pave the way for the nearby Mount Derrimut Road level crossing to be removed by 2025, the final level crossing removal between Deer Park and the City. Mt Derrimut will be used for detour routes during construction.
Construction is set to start in early 2021. The level crossings will be removed by 2023.