The level crossing on Thompsons Road in Melbourne’s south east will soon be removed, following the opening of the first of two three-lane bridges designed to separate the road from the rail line.
The $207 million project marks the twenty-fifth level crossing removal project undertaken by the Andrews government, with the final four Caulfield to Dandenong level crossings and the Skye/Overton Road level crossing now also removed.
“We promised we would remove 50 dangerous and congested level crossings and we’re half-way there – with more of these death traps to go for good,” premier Daniel Andrews said.
“Drivers in Melbourne’s south east will never get stuck behind these boom gates ever again. We’ve separated road and rail at Thompsons Road – improving safety and cutting travel times.”
Traffic will now be diverted onto the new 3,200-tonne northern road bridge over the rail line. Work will soon begin on the southern bridge and new traffic lanes on the south side of Thompsons Road.
The bridge development and level crossing removal forms the first stage of a broader upgrade programme on Thompsons Road, which includes providing three lanes in each direction from Marriott Boulevard to the South Gippsland Highway.