A $395 million deal for the removal of a pair of level crossings, the duplication of the Hurstbridge line, and construction of a new Rosanna Station has been signed.
After naming a consortium of Laing O’Rourke, Fulton Hogan and Jacobs as preferred bidders for the Hurstbridge Rail project in September, Victorian public transport minister Jacinta Allan announced this week a deal had officially been signed.
Allan also announced a rail bridge would be used to remove the Lower Plenty Road level crossing as part of the contract.
The joint venture and Level Crossing Removal Authority had been deciding between a rail bridge or rail trench, after earlier ruling out road bridge or road tunnel options.
The other level crossing included in the project, at Grange Road, will be removed by lowering the railway into a trench.
The Hurstbridge Rail project includes the duplication of 1.2 kilometres of track between Heidelberg and Rosanna, and the complete rebuild of Rosanna Station.
The Level Crossing Removal Authority says the improvements will create space for more frequent, reliable services, which will have flow-on benefits for the South Morang Line.
“The contract is signed and work will start in the coming months,” Allan said.
“Level crossings and sections of single track are relics of the past.
“They don’t belong on a modern train network and we’re removing them, to reduce road congestion and run more trains.”