The planned removal of all three level crossings in the Mebourne suburb of Noble Park will be joined by the installation of new pedestrian crossings at a busy intersection, improving access between the Ross Reserve skate park, Noble Park train station, and the Ian Street shops.
The Victorian government confirmed that plans were in place to install lights and signals at the intersection of Heatherton Road, Memorial Drive and Mons Parade.
The Level Crossing project’s director, Brett Summers, said these upgrades, to occur next year, would improve vehicle accessibility to Mons Parade.
“At the moment, the suburb can seem pretty disjointed in terms of walking or driving routes,” Summers said.
Summers said that the area’s population growth meant that improved pedestrian links would vastly improve safety in the area.
“The bigger picture is that at the end of this project there will be a new 17-kilometre walking and cycling trail stretching all the way from Yarraman to Caulfield,” he said.
“With that in mind we want to make it as easy as possible for people to head off that trail and have safe, direct access to the skate park and nearby residential areas.”
Dedicated bike signals will be included in the new traffic lights, allowing cyclists to ride along the trail and cross the intersection without dismounting.
According to the government, more than 2000 vehicles currently pass through the intersection in the one-hour morning peak. It is hoped that the inclusion of the new crossing will discourage unsafe and illegal crossings over the road by pedestrians.
This initiative goes alongside the government’s plan to remove three level crossings in Noble Park as part of the Melbourne’s Cranbourne-Pakenham train line upgrades. Their removal here will allow the construction of a new rail bridge that will elevate passing trains above Heatherton, Chandler and Corrigan Roads.
Elevating the line at Noble Park in this manner will bring together the two shopping strips on Ian Street and Douglas Street, and provide new space for parks and pathways.
Noble Park Station will be rebuilt as an elevated station, situated closer to Heatherton Road to link with the Douglas Street activity centre and Ross Reserve.