The Toorak Road level crossing will be removed before the end of April, with a nine-day works blitz about to kick off.
The Toorak Road level crossing in Kooyong will be the 35th crossing to be removed in the Level Crossing Removal Project and having the rail line run over the major arterial road will reduce traffic congestion and improve safety on the rail corridor.
The final works to be completed include removing the boom gates on Toorak Road, installing new tracks, ballast, overhead wiring, complete signalling works and the connection of the rail bridge to the Glen Waverly Line.
To ensure that the works can continue while social distancing and other COVID-19 measures are in place, extra protocols have been introduced to the worksite. These have been negotiated between the government, unions, and contractors to ensure that the 15,000 staff working on transport infrastructure in Victoria can continue to progress projects, said Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Jacinta Allan.
“The important works will go ahead with extra precautions to keep workers safe as we continue to fight coronavirus, ensuring these critical works can be completed quickly and providing job security for workers on major projects.”
While these works are conducted, motorists will be rerouted around the construction zone, and buses will replace trains between Burnley and East Malvern.
Once complete, further finishing works will be complete in 2021, including planting 23,000 trees, plants, and grasses.